God’s Definition of the Word “Prosper”

The Bible teaches us that God’s plan is perfect, even when it does not necessarily match up with what we think is perfect for our own lives.

Photo by: Brittany Gammon

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By KAYLA GLYSHAW

While Bible verses can sometimes be encouraging and positive feeling, when taken out of context we can never truly understand what they mean.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” the Lord declares in Jeremiah 29:11, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This is one of the most common Bible verses plastered all over the place.

Whether it be the awkward painting on the wall of the bathroom, or quote in the happy birthday card that your great aunt — the one you have not seen in years — sent you, this verse is certainly well known.

If you were to ask Christians what happened when this verse was said, many of them would not be able to give you an answer.

The verse itself is very encouraging, but many people take it in a way that means God is only going to put good things into your life. Things that make you prosper, right? But, in reality, it is just saying that in everything, God will prosper.

We take it in a sense that God is our own personal vending machine, but the verse means something completely different.

The letter of Jeremiah was written to Babylon when they were in a time of deep despair.

The words that Jeremiah wrote to them were to remind them that through the hardship, God was working.

I do not think this verse was intended for the good times because Jeremiah spoke to them while they were in a low point.

It is a reminder that in life, things are not under your control but God’s.

We cannot read this verse and assume that it means that things in life will always be perfect.

In fact, we need to read this verse and realize that not everything in our life is going to be happy-go-lucky.

While the verse itself sounds nice to the ears, it really is just a humble reminder that we need to surrender and let God take control of our lives.