Today is Day 4 of our 40-day devotional Journey to the Cross. I am writing this from the beautiful, peaceful campus of Falls Creek Conference Center, where I am attending a rejuvenating pastors’ conference. It has been a weekend of great encouragement for me and that is fitting for our message today from the book of Jeremiah.

For this is what the Lord says: “When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place. For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes, and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place from which I deported you.”

Jeremiah 29:10-14

When I was in Army basic training, the soldiers at the contemporary chapel service would often begin chanting however many weeks until they reached their graduation. Between every song we sang, the chant would begin, “six more weeks,” “four more weeks,” “two more weeks.” Frankly, I found it annoying that I was trying to worship the Lord and at every break these chants would start up. I eventually began attending the more traditional Protestant service instead, but still the conversations before or after were always focused on how much time you had left. Sometimes just knowing the end was near gave us hope and encouragement for the hardships of training. Maybe it is the same for you when you are preparing for a trip. When paperwork is piling up on your desk, just knowing that you will soon leave it behind can ease your stress.

The book of Jeremiah prophesies the fall of Jerusalem. The Israelites would experience dark days of war and destruction followed by the time of exile. But the Lord reminded them of what He would do for them. He planned good things for them. He planned relief from their exile and restoration of their land. These promises also looked forward to a greater promise, a greater hope. His plans for Israel would culminate in the coming of His only begotten Son.

Matthew 4 records Jesus’s temptation in the desert. He was to be like us in every way. Just as we are all tempted, He was also tempted. For forty days He went without food, and yet in His hunger and weakness, He did not give into temptation. He set for us a perfect example of humility and strength. As the perfect human being, He is our hope. His righteousness and His sacrifice gives us hope.

Through His death and resurrection, God has given you a hopeful future too. He has plans for your eternal well-being and abundant life. Today let His promise fill your heart with joy, no matter how dark your night, how downtrodden or beaten you may feel about your life. Jesus has overcome this world. You can rest and hope in Him.

Today, read Matthew 4:1-11 and see how Jesus overcame the temptations of the devil by trusting in God’s Word. As you pray, ask God to remind you of the hope that Jesus brings and that His peace would flow from that eternal hope.

Thanks for continuing with me on this journey. Tomorrow is the Lord’s Day and as such I will not post a devotional, but come back for something special! If you have missed any of this week’s devotions, go back and pick them up over the weekend.