If... Then - By Stephanie McFadden

“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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your heart. I will be found by you”

Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV

An “if/then” statement is a sentence that contains a conditional clause (the “if”) and a consequence (the “then”). If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens. IF you throw an object up, THEN it will come down.  IF you put wood into to a fire, THEN it will burn.  IF listen to your Mama, THEN she’ll be happy :)

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of those “fridge magnets” quotes- one of the “good” bible verses that you see printed over and over again. I’m not disputing that it’s a wonderful verse-- The message is a promise from God- it’s to the point, uplifting, and powerful: God has a plan. His plan is perfect. He has a purpose for us. He has a plan specifically designed for me and you.

What I find interesting is that you never see the next two lines on the “fridge magnet” ... yet God is still talking. (One thing I have learned in my Christian life.... when God talks, y’all better listen!)

In these verses, God gives a series of conditional (if/then) statements. However, since He’s God, there is no need to state the conditional clause.  He doesn’t say “if” because He is stating a fac- He’s not offering a suggestion or variable. These are commands and promises. His works are not conditional on what we do or what we fail to do (probably because He knows we will eventually fail!) Regardless of our actions, He is God and will continue to be a constant in this ever-changing world.  In His mind, there is no “if” ... it just “is”. God DOES know the plans for our lives. He WILL protect us. He DOES give us hope, and He WILL give us a future. 

“then you will...”

If a certain condition is true (God has a plan for each one of us), then a particular result happens (We will call on Him. We will pray.) In the conditional clause, God is promising us that He has a plan and He will protect us. He is already doing His part: now it’s our responsibility to follow through with the rest of the statement- we need to provide the result.  We are to call on Him and pray to Him constantly because he’s constantly fulfilling His promise to us.  

IF we call on Him and IF we pray to Him...THEN He WILL listen.  

I know the “if” and “then” words are not actually in the biblical text, but it is implied.  If a certain condition is true (You and I call on God and pray to Him), then a particular result happens (God will listen).  Simple concept, yet absolutely amazing: If we pray, then the same God that created the day and the night will hear us. If we give Him praise, He will listen. If we cry out for help, He will listen--- and all we have to do is pray.  I love this line because there are many times where it can feel like God doesn’t hear our prayers--- yet, this one simple statement from God promises us that He DOES hear us- He hears EVERY prayer to Him.

 IF you seek God with your heart... THEN you will find Him.

Again, it’s an implied “if/then” ;)
Generally, you need to look for something in order to find it. However, this is not like finding your misplaced sunglasses.  Since we cannot see God with our eyes- we have to find Him with our hearts.  Our current society is trying to convince us that we don’t need God- it seems for every desire to prove there is a God, there are five theories “proving” that He doesn’t exist.  Following your heart because you KNOW there is a God, yet alone have a relationship with Him, is a very challenging and unpopular task. God, once again, speaks and we need to listen:  If a certain condition is true (Seek God with your heart), then a particular result happens (You will find Him). 

 “I will be found by you”

In only a few lines of scripture, God is giving us a very basic idea how to obtain a relationship with Him:  We need to trust that God’s plan is the best plan for our lives. We need to believe that He knows us and loves us enough to guide us along that path. We need to talk to Him through prayer and, in turn, He will listen to everything we have to say. We must continue to actively search Him and read/study/know/believe His Word.  We need believe in God with our entire hearts so there is no room for doubt or sin or anything else that keeps us apart from our Lord.  

IF we believe in Him and all of His promises, THEN He will meet us right where we are, and lead us to where we need to go.

....and following God’s plan for our life is the best place we can be!