2410) I yearn for the day when I will be in God’s presence, not because my life here is bad, but because there’s so much that isn’t good, even evil in this life.

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of those verses that is well known. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (ESV)

Here, Jeremiah reminds us God’s plans are to bring welfare, a good future, and hope. The struggle I have with this verse is the fact that there are times when life is brutal and overwhelming.

This verse seems to imply these “plans” God has for us comes in packages for good, and yet, when I look at the times when my faith was built up, it usually is because something difficult is going on.

God does not promise us this life is going to be trouble-free if we’re God’s children. That yearning is reserved for the next life, for eternity.

So, evil and difficulties now with God right with us to help and give us hope, for 70ish years verses welfare, good fortune and hope, without any evil for eternity with him. This is something to cling to when life pulls the rug out from underneath us.