Whenever God thinks about something, it’s for a particular reason. He always works to a specific divine purpose, in order to give “…you an expected end…”. “An expected end” relates to the future and hope we desire. It refers to the end He promised us, the one He’s been encouraging us to hope for and depend on. We therefore need to continue to maintain an attitude of hope toward the Lord concerning the blessed ends that He’s already answered for us, and also at this present time.
God’s Mindful Provision
The Lord has already made provision for every need His people may have, and against every danger we might unexpectedly have to encounter and endure. Both His hand and His heart are guided by His mind, which is always involved in everything He does. Therefore, He’ll never take any action without thought on His part. His endless mind has thoughts that are as high above our thoughts as heaven is above the earth, and they’re all moving smoothly in our direction. “The Lord hath been mindful of us:…” and He’s still aware of us “…and He will bless us…” (Psalm 115:12). He constantly keeps His eye and His hand on us. The Lord never stops thinking about His people.
God knows what His thoughts are, and He’s already made up His limitless mind.
The Unchanging Divine Mind
Since the Lord is God and not man, He doesn’t need to stop and think about what He’s going to do next. God knows what His thoughts are, and He’s already made up His limitless mind. “He is in one mind, and none can turn Him, and what His soul desireth, even that He doeth” (Job 23:13). There can’t be any legitimate argument or dispute with Him. “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11). This means that He continues to know the thoughts He has toward us even when we don’t.
Working Together for Good
“To give you an expected end” literally means the kind of end we’d like to have—an “end and expectation”, an end that’s very desirable like we’ve been expecting. It’s our hope that we can put an end to all our troubles, and be able to position ourselves to delight in all the good things God’s promised us that we’ve been looking forward to. While we’re only able to look at the beginning, God sees the end from the beginning, and He always operates with a particular motive and end in mind. He makes sure “…that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Wicked people are able to enjoy prosperity, but only for a little while. God’s people don’t have any good reason to envy the wicked, because His people know that peace and prosperity will be ours for all eternity. Everyone who trusts in the Lord is going to be blessed, not only at this time, but we’ll also continue to be blessed forever! “There is a hope for thy future” (Jeremiah 31:17).
Christ: Our Anchor of Hope
The hope of every child of God is based on our one trustworthy and immovable anchor—Jesus Christ. We’re able to expect His invaluable assistance (which we really don’t deserve), along with joy and eternal glory in the world to come. Ultimately, all children of God will be able to enjoy all that they’ve been waiting and longing for. But “when a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth” (Proverbs 11:7).
There’s always something for a true follower of God to hope for. At this very moment, all His thoughts are working toward “an expected end” in order “to give you hope in your latter end.” The only position we therefore need to maintain is one of great hopefulness. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 1:13). God isn’t shoving us into spreading darkness—He’s gently leading us into increasing light!
God’s trying to warn us when He tells us not to continue to go the way we’re now headed. He wants us to realize that the end of this road we’re following is destruction.
Looking Beyond the Present
The Lord really is thinking about us here and now, but He’s also continually looking down at the end of the road. Most of us have made the widespread mistake of trying to benefit or gain satisfaction right now, or at least in the near future. But how often do we consider what the final result will be concerning what we’re doing now? More often than not, we instinctively leap into various situations without thinking about how they’ll turn out in the end. God’s trying to warn us when He tells us not to continue to go the way we’re now headed. He wants us to realize that the end of this road we’re following is destruction.
Divine Purpose Brings Peace
God guarantees us that the thoughts He has about us aren’t for our destruction—they’re for our peace and welfare. He tells us, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you!” (Jeremiah 29:11). He’s saying to us, “Don’t get the idea that I’ve forgotten you—you’re on My mind. The thoughts I have regarding you are a divine purpose for your peace in order to bring you to your expected end. Don’t forget that all the things of this life will end someday, and then you’ll be standing before Me. I want you to be sure that you consider what the end result will be concerning what you’re doing now.”
Submitting to God’s Plan
We should have a relationship of expecting from God continually, especially when it comes to fulfilling the promises He’s made. We need to allow Him to do what He knows is best, since He acts with a loving divine purpose in all that He does for us. Willingness to submit to God is the proper attitude for His people to have.
We also need be expecting God to be as good as His Word is good. The promises He makes to us are good words which can restore us. Yet there are times when we fear that all His plans are against us. But we may be certain that, whenever it comes to His people, even what appears to be evil will actually turn out to be for our good.
He won’t give us what we’ve imagined or expected in relation to our fears. What He does give us will be concerning our faith.
Faith Over Fear
“For God hath not given [His people] the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 2:7). He won’t give us what we’ve imagined or expected in relation to our fears. What He does give us will be concerning our faith. The best expected end we can hope for will be the one He’s promised us.
God’s thoughts in relation to His people are always “…thoughts of peace and not of evil.” Therefore, every child of God can declare, “How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17). He has definitive thoughts concerning our current situation, whatever it may be. “…I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer…” (Psalm 40:17). And we can be sure that we’re always in His thoughts.
Finding God in Distress
Our Lord also has thoughts concerning deep distress or major misfortune coming our way. But He’s already reassured His people that “…I know the thoughts that I think toward you,…thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).
A glorious promise is given here to any and all who’ll listen and obey the Lord—and it’s for all time! “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We can therefore be sure that the thoughts of the Lord will be fulfilled and performed!
The Apostle Paul said, “I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come…shall be able to separate us from the love of God…” (Romans 8:38). God always thinks about His people with love, and His thoughts will continue in spite of opposition.
King David said, “…Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever” (1 Chronicles 28:9).
And Jesus said, “…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37).
He’s determined to reward those who persistently seek Him, honoring all who’ll place their trust in Him. His tender compassion is the reward for those who’re righteous.
Trusting God’s Guidance
If we’re true believers in God, we know He can be trusted to guide our future. This is the main consideration that we need to deal with. Is the life you’re living at this time one of faith in God? Do you believe that He’s ready and willing to help and guide your way? Do you believe that He’ll provide for you not only in this world, but also in the next? He’s determined to reward those who persistently seek Him, honoring all who’ll place their trust in Him. His tender compassion is the reward for those who’re righteous. Because of this, God’s people have good reason to expect a lot from Him both here and now, and hereafter.
If we’ll obey the Lord in a sincere effort to follow His ways and His Word, then His “thoughts toward us” will always be “thoughts of peace, not of evil.” All of His thoughts that involve His people are a divine purpose intended to be for the sake of our peace so that He can bring us “an expected end”. This is literally a future and a hope we desire—one we’ve hoped and waited for, and that we continue to expect by faith in Him. Therefore, we should “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long” (Proverbs 23:17).
Peace Through Christ’s Blood
God’s thoughts toward His people have always been thoughts of peace. He seeks and creates our peace, and then He supports it. His people are a delight to Him. But it’s only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ that His people can be at peace with Him for eternity. Right now, are you placing your trust in Him? He’s the only One who’s capable of giving you a certain hope and a good future! Therefore, He has promised us that “…surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18).
If you want to know more of His divine purpose and expected end in your life for eternity please visit our page on the Way to God.
[Additional image credits: Featured image (when applicable) by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels; Opening image by Manuel Gast on Unsplash]
