Happy Aloha Friday, August 22nd, 2025. Whenever people ask me, “What are some places I have to visit in Hawaii?” Without fail, I say 7-Eleven. And no—I don’t mean the mainland version with soggy burritos and stale pizza. I’m talking about 7-Eleven Hawaii: manapua, pork hash, spam musubi, even udon and not-your-average gas station sushi. It’s basically a land flowing with coconut milk and Big Island honey.
But what really made 7-Eleven famous wasn’t the food—it was the hours. They stayed open longer than anyone else. And that’s what made Jeremiah unpopular: his “7 and 11” meant the exile would last longer than anyone wanted…
Today's Reading:
Jeremiah 28,29,30; 1 John 3
Scripture
“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
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.” (Jeremiah 29:7, 11 NIV)
Observation
Seventy years. That was the road to a future and a hope. The false prophets promised two years—quick and convenient. But Jeremiah told them, “Settle in for seventy.” God’s prosperity isn’t born of convenience but of perseverance.
He was calling His people to prosper in the midst of suffering. And most of the original hearers wouldn’t live to see the return. The promise of verse 11 was aimed at their children and grandchildren. God wasn’t offering instant relief—He was planting hope across generations.
Application
I like the idea of a convenient God… one who works on my schedule, answers quickly, and keeps things comfortable. But Jeremiah 29:7,11 reminds me He is not the God of the convenient; He is the God of covenant.
That means real prosperity doesn’t look like shortcuts or fast turnarounds. It resembles faithfulness in an inconvenient season. It looks like prospering in the midst of suffering. And sometimes, the seeds I plant today won’t bloom in my lifetime—they’re meant for my children and grandchildren.
Prayer
Lord, help me trust You in the long seasons. Keep me from chasing convenience when You’re building something deeper. Teach me to seek the good of the place You’ve put me and to plant faithfully, leaving a legacy of hope for the next generation. Amen.
—Chris Kiriakos