@mattdamethodist

Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse many of us know well: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” While this verse is often used to celebrate new beginnings, its true depth lies in the larger context of the chapter.

The verses that follow, Jeremiah 29:12-14, hold even more comfort for me, especially in my grief over my father’s recent passing. This section speaks to a deeper connection with God, stating, “Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord.” Leaning on God during these times of pain is healing, and it’s therapeutic to even ask, “Why, Lord?”

Watching my father suffer in the hospital, I couldn’t help but think that this wasn’t the end he would have wanted. He was a man who deserved to go out in a blaze of glory—not slowly and painfully in a hospital bed.

In the midst of all this, I’ve had to confront a long list of disrupted plans:

• A major pivot at church that I was preparing to launch.
• Getting my girls ready for the new school year.
• Missing a soccer tournament I was excited to ref.
• Being away from my family, my bed, and my normal routine.
• Missing out on bike night and a Banana Ball game in Denver.

My initial gut reaction was, “Well, crap.” But then I remembered a lesson my mother always taught me: lean into God during times like this, and you will make it through.

So, while I’m heartbroken over my father’s death and scrambling to get my life in order, my current plan is simple: to lean into the ever-loving arms of God.