You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
In Martin Handford’s Where’s Waldo? books, a series of children’s puzzle books first created in 1987, the elusive character wears a red and white striped shirt and socks with a matching hat, blue jeans, brown boots, and glasses. Handford has cleverly hidden Waldo in plain sight within the busy illustrations filled with crowds of characters at various locations around the world. Waldo isn’t always easy to see, but the creator promises readers will always be able to find him. Though looking for God isn’t really like looking for Waldo in a puzzle book, our Creator promises we can find Him, too.
Through the prophet Jeremiah, God instructed His people on how to live as foreigners in exile (Jeremiah 29:4–9). He promised to protect them until He restored them according to His perfect plan (vv. 10–11). God assured the Israelites that the fulfillment of His promise would deepen their commitment to call on Him in prayer (v. 12).
Today, even though God has revealed Himself in the story and Spirit of Jesus, it can be easy to get distracted by the busyness of this world. We may even be tempted to ask, “Where’s God?” However, the Creator and Sustainer of all things declares that those who belong to Him will always find Him if they seek Him with all their hearts (vv. 13–14).
Read: Jeremiah 29:4-7, 10-14 (NIV)
4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carriedd
into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5 “Builde houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.
6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and
give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters.
Increase in number there; do not decrease.f
7 Also, seekg the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.
Prayh to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy yearso are completed for Babylon,
I will come to youp and fulfill my good promiseq to bring you backr to this place.
11 For I know the planss I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prospert
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.u
12 Then you will callv on me and come and prayw to me, and I will listenx to you.
13 You will seeky me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.z
14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you backa from captivity.b
I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,”
declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”b
INSIGHT
- What distractions prevent you from spending time seeking God through Bible reading and prayer?
- How has God helped you focus on Him when busyness tugs you away from Him?
God used the Assyrians and Babylonians to discipline His people for their unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 1:15–16; 5:15–17). Israel was completely destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 bc, but God wouldn’t allow the Babylonians to destroy Judah completely (5:18–19; 2 Kings 17:18–20). Though Judah would be in Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11), God promised He would “watch over them for their good, and . . . bring them back to this land” (24:6). Jeremiah reiterated that God would bring them back after the seventy years were completed (29:10). In the meantime, they were to settle down in Babylon (vv. 4–9).
PRAYER
Loving Creator and Sustainer of all, please help me seek You daily with all my heart and trust You will keep the promises You’ve made. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: Jeremiah 29:4-7, 10-14 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: Joshua 19-21; Luke 2:25-52
