It’s frustrating for me as a Christ follower when someone who is not a believer twists a Bible verse in a way in a way to try to dispute my beliefs. I freely admit that, although I read my Bible every morning, I am not a Bible scholar or expert, so I sometimes can’t counter their argument without looking up the quote and reviewing the context.
What can be more hurtful is when other believers misunderstand what they have read or heard and start to doubt God and His Word.
Grieving parents are especially vulnerable. When your child dies, your whole world is knocked off kilter. You may question everything you thought you knew about God. The Bible verses you memorized and clung to during trying times can suddenly feel like a lie. Or a well-meaning friend may quote a passage in a way that stings your heart rather than comforting it. I’ve written in a previous post about how people misinterpret 1 Thessalonians 4:13 to mean that as Christians we should not grieve. (“In Our Future” 2/13/2023) This is not at all what Paul meant in his letter. He explains that as believers in the resurrected Christ, we grieve the loss of loved ones, but we have the hope and promise of seeing them again in eternity.
Another often misunderstood verse is Jeremiah 29:11.
“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.”
Jeremiah 29:11
I have heard so many grieving parents say they prayed this verse over their children; they took it to mean that if their children believed what the Bible said, they would live a long and prosperous life. They brought their children up to trust God.
What happened?
Sweet hurting parent, if you are angry at God and wondering if He fell through on this promise, He did not.
God told Jeremiah to remind His chosen people of the long view. Despite years of warnings and God’s direct instructions to Jeremiah and other prophets, most of the Israelites had gone astray. They were worshipping idols and not following God’s commandments. So, they were sent into exile for 70 years. A lot of bad things happened during those decades. Most of the original exiles would die before the Israelites could return to Jerusalem.
But, God made a promise that His ultimate plan was Redemption. Salvation. Prosperity. Hope.
God’s view is infinitely longer than ours. We may feel like our child’s life was cut short. We may feel like we ourselves lost our hope and our future when we outlived our child.
There is a future. It may not look like we envisioned it here on earth. But, that’s the short view. God’s promises and His plans never fail.
Don’t lose hope.
Laura
A Light for My Path 
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