11/6 Daily in the Word

Thankful for His Plan
Friday, November 6, 2009
by Dr. Paul Chappell

"For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you."

Jeremiah 29:10-12

Tough times don't last; tough people do.

In the mid-1800s, much of the island of Ireland depended on the potato crop for food. In fact, one third of the island's food source came from the potato. But something awful happened. A disease known as potato blight struck the island and wiped out the potato crop. As a result, Ireland entered a seven-year period of famine. During that time, it is recorded that nearly one million people died of starvation. Another one million people fled the island and emigrated to both America and Europe.

One man who didn't emigrate was John Bloomfield, a wealthy man who lived in County Fermanagh. He faced just as many losses-loss of workers, loss of produce from his fields, loss of finances, and loss of nobility; yet he stayed in Ireland. One day he was out working on his farm when he noticed a white finish on the side of his neighbor's houses. Curious, he approached one of his neighbors and inquired as to the white finish. The neighbor replied, "Your land is rich with a clay deposit that sometimes gets on our buildings when the winds and rains come." Realizing the great resource he had, Bloomfield hired workers and began extracting the clay from his land. He then hired more workers to work the clay into pottery that displayed traditional Irish designs. In 1857, he built a pottery shop in Belleek, and soon expanded his pottery business across the island. His pottery is now known as some of the finest pieces, and are sought after by collectors from around the globe.

Even in some of the toughest times, Bloomfield was able to see prosperity, growth, and success. He didn't see this as a result of giving into the horrible conditions that surrounded him, but because of his hard work and diligence.

We all face difficult times. Whether burdens mount in our finances, health, employment, or our spiritual lives; there will be times of difficulty. But in those times, we can have hope, knowing that God has a plan for our lives. He knows what we face, and He has a plan for our trial.

I once read this quote, "Tough times don't last; tough people do." Trials won't last forever, but how we react to them will determine how long we will "last." Many Christians faint at the first sign of trouble, and pull away from God. But God desires that when the heat of a fiery trial touches our lives, we would submit to His plan, and allow Him to refine us.

Notice God's promise to Jeremiah and to you in the verses today: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." God has good thoughts toward you, thoughts of a plan that includes you accomplishing His will. God would never seek to hurt you through a trial; He loves you too much for that.

No one enjoys times of difficulty, but God promises that He has a plan for such times. His plan includes your refinement so you may draw closer to Him and become more like His Son. Don't waste this time, and recoil from God's attempt to mold you.

Are you enduring a fiery trial right now? In our story, Mr. Bloomfield was faced with famine, loss of workers, and loss of finances, yet he pressed on. What would have happened had he given up and left his estate? He would have never been a part of the great revolution in Irish pottery.

Even so, God has a plan for you through the trial you face. Giving up in the midst of a trial only takes you further away from God's plan. Take time right now to thank God for your trial. Thank Him that He still counts you worthy enough to be used. Submit to His molding, and trust His sovereign plan for you today.