August 2, 2026 Devo

Several years ago, I read a really insightful book called “Failure: The Back Door to Success.” The big idea of the book was how God uses failures, setbacks, and shortcomings as part of the way He works out His plans for our lives. It’s built on the principle that Jeremiah talks about in our passage today and what Paul writes about in Romans 8:28 when he says, “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.” There are a couple of HUGE truths in these scriptures that we need to remember.
One simple, powerful truth is this: God’s paths are BEST! I know that seems so obvious, but it’s truly not. Look at the first line of God’s word to Judah in our passage. “You will be in Babylon for seventy years.” This was not what God wanted! All the way up to the Babylonian invasion, God PLEADED with Judah to turn back to Him. He wanted to protect them. He wanted to care for them. He wanted to help them become the people that He could bless beyond measure. But THEY chose a different path. Now they would suffer for seventy years because of it.
That leads us to the second truth. Though we often choose paths of our own, God will keep working. He will keep reaching out to draw us back to Himself. He will keep reminding us of His love, His grace, and His power to redeem and restore. And, if we turn to Him, He will use the painful path we have chosen to guide us back to HIS path and the good work that He wants to continue to do in our lives. Seventy years was a long time to struggle, and it probably seemed like “the end” for many of the people. But it wasn’t the end. It was just the painful detour that God would now use to guide them back to the plans He had for them. Plans with a future and a hope.
Take this to heart today. Choose God’s paths. They will lead you to life. They will also keep you under His protective care. But if you find yourself suffering today from the path you’ve chosen, turn back to God. He still has good plans for you. He still has a future for you. If you will lean into Him, He will be with you on your painful path to guide you back to where you need to be. He really can work in all things. Even in the messes we make for ourselves. That’s God’s Word for you today.