“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” – Jeremiah 29:11

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The other day I was at my friend’s house waiting for lunch. She was preparing the food and had put her one-and-a half-year-old son in a high chair while she made soup. She had set some bread in front of him on the table and not far from the bread was a long knife that she had used to cut the loaf. Her son saw the light reflect off of the knife and he wanted to hold it. As he reached out for it, he was almost able to grab the knife. Fortunately, my friend saw it just in time and was able to scold her son and move the knife further away. But he was not happy and let her know that by starting to cry. He did not understand that she had pulled the tantalizing object away for his own safety.

As Christians, there may be times when we want things that are not God’s will for us. Like my friend’s son, we may reach for them and almost have them in our grasp when God comes and snatches them away. We may get angry and question God’s motives, but like the child, we do not have the perspective or the wisdom that God does.

Today, if there is something that God has taken out of your life and you are bitter or upset about it, think of this verse and of the child. God knows what He is doing. He loves you and wants the very best for you. There is a song that we sing in church that has the lyrics, “When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.” Trust Him and what He is doing.

If God is calling something from you today and you are afraid or upset, keep in mind the fact that God sees the end from the beginning and you can trust Him. The focus verse for today echoes that fact. God is thinking good thoughts toward you today. Let Him have His way in your life.