thinking bible.

You asked

how does this promise of a future hope in exile compare with new testament perspectives on enduring suffering?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans that I have for you,” says Yahweh, “plans for shalom and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

This verse is part of a letter from the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish exiles living in Babylon, around the 6th century BCE. He is writing to them during a difficult period of forced displacement, challenging false prophets who promised a quick return home, and urging the exiles to settle in and seek the good of their foreign city.

When facing a long-term difficult situation, how might this ancient promise reshape your perspective on the present?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

  • Romans 5:3-5

    This New Testament passage connects suffering with the development of perseverance, character, and hope.

  • 1 Peter 1:6-7

    This talks about enduring various trials to prove the genuineness of faith, leading to praise, glory, and honor at Jesus' return.

  • Psalm 137

    This psalm expresses the deep grief and longing of the exiles in Babylon, contrasting with Jeremiah's message of long-term hope.

Ask your own follow-up