Forever Faithful 10-Day DevotionalSýnishorn

The Art of Keeping On

I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back. -Jeremiah 29:11

On June 10, 1966, a man stood before a crowd of thousands in Soldiers Field, Chicago. As he closed his sermon, he said: “Sometimes I feel discouraged and feel my work’s in vain. But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. ‘There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole.’ ”

The man was Martin Luther King Jr., and the speech critiqued Chicago’s unequal housing policy.

King confronted the worst aspects of American society, from death threats to actual assassination attempts. However, he never quit despite the rabid opposition against his fight for civil rights.

When the whole world is against us, where is God and how do we persist?

King likely asked himself such questions throughout his life; the people of Judah may have asked similar questions while being taken to Babylon and held there in captivity.

God’s message came to the exiles in a letter from the prophet Jeremiah that put things in perspective: “ ‘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’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Through time, this verse has held true for many believers in Christ, including Dr. King. However, there are moments in our daily lives when we might lose our confidence or even our hope in God. In those times, somehow we must remember to trust in God and keep moving forward.

Anthony Jones

Has there been a time or circumstance when you were unsure about the future? How has God encouraged you or reshaped your expectations about the unknowns of life?

God, please deepen my trust in Your faithfulness.