I'm not sure how to put this thought to words, but I'm gonna try. :)
It's an idea that came to mind without invitation.
It caught me and held me.
It continues to do that when I allow for myself to be held.
There is an often quoted collection of words that read this way,
"For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Most of the time when I have read those words or heard them quoted the emphasis is on the
second half.
The words "prosper", "hope" and "future" are elevated in significance.
And though there was a specific group of people who they were directed towards, during a specific time, they have found their way onto greeting cards, t-shirts, blogs and all sorts of other spaces as words 
of commitment from the one who spoke them.
I don't think this is a bad thing.
Because, in general, I believe this is his heart towards us.
Not as though it is a contractual obligation, but that...He really does love us and wills his relationship with us to have those ideas mentioned as by-products of that relationship.
However...
What I've wondered about myself, and really all of us as followers; as his children, is this:
Are we secure enough in our faith ...
do we trust Him enough...
that if all we got was the first half of the verse, we would continue to follow anyhow?
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord...
In other words, which is the better promise?
Is it that he will adorn our lives with a prosperous, hopeful future?
Or that He knows the plans he has for us?
Such a mountainous question isn't it...
How comfortable am I, living within..."He knows..." all by itself?
Don't get me wrong.
I'm thankful for the second half of the verse, and as I said, I think it is the heart of God.
However, I know that the "prospering" part of life is open to interpretation.
He may see it differently than I, or those around me do.
There is no time-frame mentioned in that promise either.
In our particular situations, how far down the road is this "hope and future" he speaks about?
When will it arrive at my door?
Is he as efficient with delivery as Amazon?
What if when he said, "For I know the plans I have for you..."
I held up my hand and said, "That's all I needed to know."
And I rose with joy and went out into the day.
