Was a little confused at first, since I used KJV and it says:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. - Jeremiah 29:11
Which led me to wonder, what in the world is an expected end? When read together in line with the thoughts that the Lord has for me, it is obviously good, yet when read by itself, sounds pretty ominous doesn't it? So in came the NKJV version:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
When pastor pointed it out, I was 0-0. So the expected end meant that I could expect a HOPEFUL FUTURE, one that I could actually look forward to, because if the Lord's thoughts for me are of peace [and the word used is not only peace- sense of soundness, but it's SHALOM! Shalom means
1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
a) completeness (in number)
b) safety, soundness (in body)
c) welfare, health, prosperity
d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment
e) peace, friendship
1) of human relationships
2) with God especially in covenant relationship
f) peace (from war)
g) peace (as adjective)
according to Strong's Dictionary. You can check it out under Strong's 7965.] and NOT of evil, doesn't it mean that my future is going to be EXACTLY the way God plans it to be, meaning: wholeness, mental and spiritual soundness, safe, healthy, prosperous [financially], content, swamped in edifying human relationships and ALWAYS in a close and intimate relationship with Daddy God? That means that there's hope ALWAYS, regardless of my circumstances, and that it's not only a glorious end that I have, but the process to get there is full of hope as well! All because His thoughtS towards us [which are btw ALL THE TIME] are of SHALOM! Just makes the whole journey so much easier, and makes Him so much more intimate with us isn't it? When do we think of a person constantly? When we're head over heels in love with the person isn't it? So God's head over heels in love with us ALL the time, regardless of what we do, what we feel and what others say about us! So we have an eternal advocate, who always thinks the best FOR us and OF us, all because of He loves us and died at the cross for us =)
It's like walking whilst being held in His arms, being constantly guided by Him to where is best for me. And all I have to do is? Let go, let Him guide me, hope and enjoy Him =) It's so simple and yet, the joy one gets from it is inexplicable =D