¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare^[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV)

The annotation after welfare in my translation says that it can be interrupted as “peace” as well. Knowing the God we serve, He meant both.

God’s plan for our lives is for both welfare and peace. But the world and the enemy will do everything they can to steal that away from us. The enemy is here to steal, kill and destroy. The world simply is set up to lure us away from God’s peace in the guise of offering more and more distraction. We must consciously make a choice to focus more upon the future and hope the Lord provides.

God does not wish any evil upon us, but He still allows free will and with this comes choices we have to make.

Reflect on: Your choices. Do they align with God’s plans for welfare and peace?