Making Plans For City Welfare

From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-12
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
 
Meditation
When I began to write this week's meditation, I dated it July 27, not January. I laughed when I spotted my error. I think most of us are really, really ready for Covid to be a thing of the past. 

Open Bible (Source: Tara Winstead on Pexels)

Lately, I have been talking about a meditation retreat I plan to attend in October. As nice as it is to have something to look forward to, we know all too well that plans can be thwarted. Yet, I am willing to risk that disappointment in favor of being able to have some hope of moving about more freely in the future.

The prophet Jeremiah was speaking to a people in exile. His message that God wanted them to take root right where they were was not popular. The people wanted to go home. However, Jeremiah wanted them to know that God was still with them and still making plans for them. In Jeremiah 29:7, the prophet tells them, "Promote the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile."

I think that people of faith are always called to try to better the welfare of those around us, regardless of where we might find ourselves. Yes, we are called to hope. To dream. Yet, above all, we are called to prayer, and in prayer, we may hear God calling us to do something quite different than what we were imagining. So we learn to hold lightly as we tend to our community, our families, and our dreams. Because above all, whether it is January, July, or October, God has plans for us and these plans can be discerned. Let us trust that indeed, God is with us and guiding us. The way will be made known.

Prayer
Holy One, teach us your ways. We are ready to listen. We know that too often we want you to do things our way. However, in our hearts we also know that we humans can be quite shortsighted. Help us to keep our eyes on the horizon that is your love. Help us to keep going, trusting the path that you have set before us. Remind us, O God, to also help those who journey with us. May we never forget that we are all your children and we are in this life together. 
In gratitude we pray, Amen

Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor
San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ
www.slzchurch.org 
www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com