Devotional: Prosperity, Hope and a Future

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (NKJV)

I have this verse on a banner in my kitchen.  It is in the NIV translation which goes like this:

"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." (NIV)

I was puzzling over this verse this morning as I ate my breakfast.  If God plans to prosper me and not harm me, then why are there verses such as follows in the Bible?

 Hebrews 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Those who preach a health and wealth gospel like to latch on to verses like the one in Jeremiah as proof texts that God wants to give us health and wealth, make us successful and rich and all that goes with it.  So I was trying to reconcile this in my mind.

I discovered that this verse was directed at the tribe of Judah which was in captivity at the time.  God was remembering His covenant promise to them, of restoration.  Obviously they were in hard times when this was written to them.

So this verse wasn't directed toward Christians today at all, in a literal, physical sense.  However, we as God's people, today, can find application in a spiritual sense here.  We can be likened to the tribe of Judah spiritually in that we are in a sense in exile here in this world as we live out our lives as strangers and pilgrims.
 ( Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11)

God promised them restoration to their land, prosperity, a hope and a future in a physical sense.  But He also promised this in a spiritual sense as we see below.

Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

We also look for a better country, the heavenly one, where God will prosper us.  We have a hope and a future to look forward too!

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.