Last summer I read through the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah. I didn’t have a particular reason. I guess I just wanted to hang out with the major prophets.
But God knew why I was reading some of his OT big guys. I’m sure he handpicked them for me. Because he knew in June how much I would need the words of Isaiah and Jeremiah in January.
After being diagnosed with cancer at the start of this year, I paged through those two books and 
landed on passage after passage of scripture that I underlined while sitting on my deck last summer. They became God’s voice speaking right to my hurting places.
Almost everyone I know who memorizes scripture has Jeremiah 29:11 in their memory log.
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.
It is a lovely, encouraging verse.
But do you know what that verse is a part of?
It’s a statement to the exiles. God did not say those words to happy, comfortable people in their comfortable houses with their comfortable families. He said them to people going through some tough stuff.
He spoke them to people who, in his own words, were “objects of horror and scorn… banished from the sounds of joy and gladness.”
I took comfort in that verse before I knew the context. But with the context it is even more meaningful. My cancer is not a punishment like the Isrealites’s exile was, but it is still tough stuff. God knew I was going to have a crummy winter of 2016. But he also knew of his plans to give me a hope and a future. I have no idea what that future looks like. But he does, and I trust him. And there is freedom in trusting him through the hard stuff. The heavy becomes lighter. The daunting becomes doable.
There were moments over the course of this year when I was a little scared of what lie ahead of me. And there were moments I was a lot scared. But there were also many moments that I had more peace than a 40-year-old wife and mama who was diagnosed with breast cancer should have.
I am not doubtful that the God who had me reading Old Testament prophets while I sat and watched my boys swim last summer knows exactly what he is doing. He knew then that he planned to use those underlined words to bring me comfort and courage during the long hard winter. He also knows now what my future hope looks like. And that is enough.
Such a meaningful post, Kim. I’m thankful you’re on this side of your trial. I love how we can often look back on difficult times and see how God prepared us for that particular situation. He’s a good, good Father. Thank you for sharing your story here. Blessings!