His Plan My Life
- Taylor J. Epps
- Jan 29
- 4 min read
My song "You Will Win" is inspired by the scripture Jeremiah 29:11, which says,
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)
You may have heard this scripture before and may have even heard that it is a cliche "feel good" scripture that's out of context. However, I believe the context in which this was written makes the scripture verse even more impactful! Let me break it down:
Going into Captivity
At the time when these words were spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, the Israelites (God's people) were about to enter into a period of exile - or be "uncovered" and led into captivity by a foreign nation (H1473; H1540) - for 70 years! The Israelites were doing evil in the sight of the Lord (Jeremiah 3-4; 26) and had to be punished for their own good, much like a parent to a child. Let's explore, now, how God is good through this difficult situation!
God's Consistent Message
As I mentioned before, the Israelites were considered God's people. Understanding this relationship dynamic, what's truly remarkable, in the context of Jeremiah 29:11, is that God Himself, though communicating a harsh reality, spoke to His people through His prophets, explaining the reason for the discipline and following through on His word, yet encouraging them that this was all for their good, like a good Father!
God revealed His good character, righteousness, and soverignty by delivering a consistent message. False prophets had spread lies that this punishment would be more like a 2-year slap-on-the-wrist (Jeremiah 28), but God was consistent on having them go through this the way He saw fit. In a nutshell, His message was this: "You made some bad decisions and didn't heed my warnings. Now, you have to deal with the harsh consequences. You will be held captive for a long time, but I want you to grow from and in this situation and even pray for those who oppress you. I know the plans I have for you. I'm in control. This is not meant to hurt you or harm you, but to ensure that your future is prosperous. In this, put your hope."
What Does this Mean for Us in Modern Times?
Right now, you might be wondering how this relates to us nowadays. We aren't in captivity and we aren't oppressed by a foreign nation. However, we have all sinned and reaped the consequenses of those decisions. Some things we can take away from this principle example are:
Don't allow the negative consequences stop your life or cause you to stray further from God. God instructed the Israelites to settle down, marry, have children, etc. (Jeremiah 29:5&6) Though they would be "on punishment" for a while, it didn't mean they couldn't use it as a time to grow
Pray through the situation and for those who may be part of your suffering and, in turn, you will find your healing
God uses everything for His purpose. So, if you love God, you can be assured that your life and even the negative experiences you go through serve a purpose that all works together for your good (Romans 8:28)
Why "You Will Win"?
Lastly, I'd like to connect the dots as to how this relates to my song "You Will Win". If we believe and acknowledge that God is soverign and knows the beginning from the end, then we can trust Him. When we find ourselves in a position where we've strayed from God and have lost our way, caught up in the consequences of our sin, listen for His voice saying that He has a plan for you and He only wants what's good for you. Though it may not look good and may not feel good, it is good because it will bring you back to Him. It will help you remember how much you need Him and give you the wisdom to repent.
With God on our side, even our failures are stepping stones to success. What the enemy meant for evil, God turns it for good (Genesis 5:20) and if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us (1 John 1:9). Every part of our lives, all the ups and downs, have purpose and meaning for God's overall plan, not just for your life but for humanity. We just have to put our hope in Him who says we win in the end because of the victory of the cross!
I truly hope you were blessed by this post and maybe learned something that will stick with you! If you haven't subscribed to my website, feel free to do so as you will receive a downloadable "You Will Win" Lyric Poster as well as a 50% discount code for merch that will be available in the upcoming months! Also, if you haven't heard "You Will Win" yet, take a listen and feel free to add it to your playlists for a beautiful reminder that God has a plan for your life and because of that, you will win!
With Love,
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