For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. Jeremiah 29:11-14

One evening a woman was driving home when she noticed an 18-wheeler truck behind her.

As this was a relatively crowded highway, that didn't especially bother her. What caused her some concern is that it seemed the big truck was following at an uncomfortably close distance.

Not a problem she said to herself and she stepped on the gas. The truck did the same. The faster she went; the faster went the truck. She slowed down, he slowed down. She took an off ramp and then, because the truck had continued to follow her, she immediately sped back onto the highway. The truck did the same.

The driver of the truck mirrored every move she made.

Once more she got off the road, hoping to lose her pursuer in the traffic. It didn't happen. The truck even ran a red light to stay behind her. Finally, in a panic, the woman whipped into a service station and bolted out of her automobile screaming for help. The truck driver sprang from his truck and ran toward her car. Yanking the back door open, he reached in and pulled out a man who had been hiding in the backseat.

The woman had been running from the wrong person.

From his high vantage point, the truck driver had spotted the would-be robber or rapist. The chase was not his effort to harm her, but to save her even at the cost of his own safety.

All of this is a rather lengthy way of saying please don't run away from the Lord. Don't be like the people of this world who resent God's commandments, His actions, His love, His call to faith, and the Savior's salvation.

Instead, rejoice and know His presence in your life is not there to hurt or harm. Look at the things the Triune God said to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. He said

* He had plans for our welfare;

* He had plans to give us a future and a hope;

* He has promised to respond to those who call on Him, to be found by those who seek Him;

* He has guaranteed He will restore our fortunes and bring us safely back home.

From what I can see and what I believe, the Lord will not hurt or harm, He has -- because of His Son's sacrifice -- promised to help and heal.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks for Your presence in my life. Even when I may not understand why things happen the way they do, help me rely on You for guidance and direction. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Hosea 12-14    Romans 16

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