Carol McClain

Three ways to have a hopeful future

by Carol McClain

@carol_mcclain

Are you like me? (If not–kudos. I’m a mite on the loopy end of sanity).

If you are like me, you must’ve hung onto Jeremiah 29:11. “‘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)

Even though I’m NASB kind of girl, I love the NIV version.

God’s going to give us a future! A hopeful future! Not gonna harm us!

No matter what we’ve done, if we confess our sins, He will forgive. (Look at David, Sampson, Adam and Eve–but I digress).

Guilt, though, dogs me. Reared as a Catholic, I’m well-schooled in understanding my failings. Catholicism can be a guilt-driven faith ruled by a punitive God who doesn’t forget even little sins.

There’s a cute joke that sums up how many Catholics feel. When a lightbulb goes out, a Protestant replaces it. The Catholic says, “What did I do to cause it to break?”

So I know shame and culpability. Where there is no need for it in my life, I search for where I was wrong. Forget about when I do wrong–and believe me, in my life, I’ve done my share. When I sin…

It isn’t a pretty sight.

However, we are new creations in Christ. ^“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor. 5:17, NIV).

The new is here! You are new!

We all know the verse: “A far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12, NIV).

This is where Jeremiah 29:11 sings.

We may have sidelined our dreams for a bit. The course of our lives may have taken a new directions.

God has plans for us.

Good ones. Prosperous ones (not the prosperity/name it-claim it).

You will thrive and grow and succeed if you abide in Christ and live according to the Word of God.

How to have hope and a future:

1. Have a relationship with Jesus.
   1. Repent of your wrong doing
   2. Go to church
   3. Read your Bible
   4. Pray
2. Change your direction if you’re on the wrong path.
   1. Do your friendships and love relationships glorify God?
   2. Find a satisfying job if at all possible.
   3. Do something meaningful for others.
   4. Do something meaningful for yourself.
3. Find a good, Bible believing church. There’s one for everyone.

You have a future. It’s a hopeful one. It may not be pleasant at the moment, but it will be fulfilling.