You should still remember that on the first day of our retreat, we quoted from the book of the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11, where God speaks to us: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
You may have doubts in your heart: Is this true? Is God’s plan for me truly one of peace and free from disaster? Why do my experiences tell me otherwise? If God truly cares for me and has a hopeful future planned for me, shouldn’t He remove all the difficulties and sufferings I experience so that I could experience His love more directly?
God indeed has a plan for us, but its ultimate purpose goes beyond our worldly concerns. It points toward the future, an eternal and hopeful future!
God allows us to go through various trials and tribulations in this life for one main reason: to prepare us for eternal life.
No one likes trials and suffering, but no one would object to self-improvement and becoming a better person. This desire is part of our human nature, given by God, to set life goals and seek a more fulfilling and meaningful existence. If we elevate our thoughts beyond worldly concerns, we can begin to understand God’s desire for us:
He wants to elevate our humanity so that we may share in His divinity, ultimately leading us to perfection, holiness, and eternal union with Him.
This may seem impossible, but it became possible through Jesus Christ, who took on humanity by being born into this world. The spiritual transformation that we cannot achieve by human effort alone can be accomplished through the power given by God, through the Holy Spirit. However, for this divine plan to be fulfilled, it requires our active cooperation.
Let’s use an analogy. Our learning process in this world requires us to take exams to ensure we understand and can apply what we have learned. The purpose of exams is to challenge us. Through taking exams, we improve ourselves and become better equipped for greater responsibilities and missions in life.
Examinations come in different levels. As we grow, the difficulty naturally increases, otherwise, we would not achieve the expected results. This pushes us to study harder, step out of our comfort zones, challenge ourselves, and strive for a higher level of achievement.
Similarly, God allows us to face different trials in life, not because He does not care or love us, but precisely because He does!
God endures the pain of watching us go through suffering because He knows that only in this way can we learn and grow, improve ourselves, and become more like Him. Ultimately, this enables us to experience the fullness of joy in communion with Him.
Reflection
God has promised that His plan for you is one of peace, not of disaster, and that He has a future with hope for you. Have you ever doubted this promise?
Do you believe that growth in life and faith require going through different tests and exams, just like our learning process in school?
Do you wish that God would use other ways, ones that do not involve suffering or tests, to help you grow in character and virtue? Take a moment now to share your thoughts with our Lord in prayer.
Today’s Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for listening to me today. I know that You understand my deep longing for a smoother, more peaceful journey in this life, free from disasters. But I also understand the message You want to tell me today. You want me to understand the reasons behind the difficulties and pain You allow me to experience.
Father, I understand, but sometimes the difficulties of life feel overwhelming. Sometimes, I don’t want to face them. At times, I even feel like giving up…
I now call on the holy name of Jesus and pray to you. Please grant me the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Open the eyes of my heart so that I may see my sufferings with the eyes of faith, and through them, become more like You and draw closer to You…
You are invited to visit the YouTube channel, where all participants are encouraged to join and share their reflections.
Fundraising Appeal
Thank you for participating in this 40-day Lenten spiritual journey. We hope you have been inspired and have benefitted from it! For the spiritual benefit of all of you, Fountain of Love and Life devotes a lot of time and effort in producing various spiritual projects every year, and all our ministries are sustained by the generous donations of our supporters. We hope you will support us with prayers and donations. Please make an online donation using the button at the top of the website Lent.FLL.cc. Thank you very much for your support. God bless!
The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom” team, including FLL staff and volunteers.
Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Writer: Paul Yeung
Project Manager: Michael Lam, Rosa Tse
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: J. Johnson
Mandarin Narrator: C. Zhou
Audio Editors: Cyan Cheung, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Arnold Chan, Cyan Cheung, Sander Lee
Graphics: Francis Lai, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“3 MINUTES RELAXATION MUSIC | 4K Scenic View of Tuscany” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Sea of Memory” by Aakash Gandhi https://www.youtube.com/@88keystoeuphoria