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The Presence
(Jeremiah 29:10-14)
Yearly Theme: “Goodness is… Glorious”
Series Title: “Beyond the Noise”
November 3rd, 2024

Something to think about:

In her book Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Ruth Haley Barton writes,

“To Stay on the journey into solitude and silence now is to stay with the experience of seeing ourselves as we are in God’s presence, as challenging as it is. In solitude we stop defending against the reality of our condition, we give up our attempts to control the outcomes of our journey because we can finally see it is quite beyond our ability to control. We let go of our attachment to the pieces of ourselves that we have allowed to define us. We endure the storm created by the old self as it frantically tries to maintain control.

“During this part of the journey, we may also experience grief as we begin to see all the ways we cut ourselves off from the love that our heart longs for. We may become aware that the pain we have experienced is not merely the result of evil ‘out there’ but also a result of patterns of sin and brokenness that have hardened in and around our own heart.”[1]


[1] Ruth Haley Barton, Invitation to Solitude and Silence, (InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, Illinois; 2010), 108-109.

It must be noted that before we get into practical application of this passage there is a historical framework that has been taken out of context in our day. Often used as a nice verse for graduates, Theologian Christopher Writes explains:

“Jeremiah 29:11 probably ranks as one of the most quoted and most claimed promises of the Bible. It is found in countless text calendars, pretty pictures, and sacred ornaments. It is rightly trusted as a very precious word of assurance from God. But do we take note of its context? This is a surprising word of hope to a people who stood under God’s judgment. It is not a glib happy feeling: ‘God’s going to be nice to us all, me especially’ (we should note that the ‘you’ is plural, not individual—this is primarily a promise to the people as a whole). It is rather the robust affirmation that even in and through the fires of judgment there can be hope in the grace and goodness of God. That is God’s ultimate plan and purpose. The promise stands firm, but it does not preclude or neutralize judgment. Rather it presupposes but transcends judgment.”[1]

Having taken note of that, let’s now consider the timeless nature of GOD’s message in this passage. As He instructs and encourages His people during a time of judgment, GOD also does for His people today. This leads us to our key point…

Key Point: “To experience the pure presence of GOD, we must seek Him with our whole heart.”

How can we truly experience the pure presence of GOD? Let’s break this down further:


[1] Wright, Christopher J. H. 2014. The Message of Jeremiah: Grace in the End. Edited by Alec Motyer and Derek Tidball. The Bible Speaks Today. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press.

· We must be willing to admit that GOD’s ______________ are better than ours.
Jeremiah 29:11a (NLT), “I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.

· We must be willing to seek GOD’s ______________ for us rather than our own.

Jeremiah 29:11b (NLT), “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

· We must be willing to seek GOD with all of our ______________.

Jeremiah 29:12-14a (NLT), 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord.

In the Old Testament prophetic book that bears his name, Jeremiah instructs the people of the nation of Judah that GOD’s punishment of their exile in Babylon would not last forever, but only 70 years. And, GOD tells the people that after 70 years He will gather them back and bring them home. In Jeremiah 29:12-13, GOD promises “In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”Do you (or have you) seek GOD wholeheartedly? Explain...

There is a chapter in Ruth Haley Barton’s book, Invitation to Solitude and Silence, that is entitled “Pure Presence.”In this chapter, she relates pure presence as “seeing ourselves as we are in GOD’s presence.”How do you see yourself in GOD’s presence?

In that same chapter, Barton explains that this part of the journey into solitude and silence with GOD can be rather difficult because “we may also experience grief as we begin to see all the ways we cut ourselves off from the love that our heart longs for.”What are some ways (like the people of Judah did in the Old Testament) you have cut yourself off from GOD? How does it feel to know that He is there waiting to be found by you as you seek Him with all your heart?

When we learn the discipline of spending time alone with GOD in His pure presence, we slowly begin to see how He sees us rather than how we see ourselves as compared to Him, and this is a great and powerful transition into freedom.When was the last time you saw yourself as fearfully and wonderfully made by GOD (Psalm 139)?

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