Daily Devotional for Wednesday, June 11, 2025

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Then You Will Call Upon Me: A Devotional on Jeremiah 29:12

God’s Promise to Hear Is Not for the Casual Seeker, but for the Repentant and Wholehearted

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” — Jeremiah 29:12

Jeremiah 29 was written around 594 B.C.E. during one of the darkest periods in the history of Judah. Jerusalem had not yet fallen entirely (which would occur in 587 B.C.E.), but many of the nation’s leaders, craftsmen, and skilled workers had already been exiled to Babylon during the earlier deportation in 597 B.C.E. The prophet Jeremiah, still residing in Jerusalem, sent a letter from Jehovah to the Jewish exiles now living in Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar. This letter included instructions for the exiles to settle peacefully in Babylon, seek the good of the city, and wait patiently for Jehovah’s promised deliverance.

Jeremiah 29:12 is part of a larger passage (vv. 10–14) in which Jehovah assures the exiles that after seventy years, He will restore them to their land. It is important to note that this passage was written to a specific people, in a specific historical setting, with specific promises. However, the principle it reveals remains timeless and applicable: Jehovah hears those who seek Him in truth. It is not a casual or automatic hearing. It is a response to a people who are broken, penitent, and fully dependent on Him.

Let us explore the truth of this verse through its plain words and historical context.

“Then you will call upon me…”

The word “then” connects this verse directly to the preceding verse, Jeremiah 29:11, where Jehovah says, “For I know the plans that I have for you… plans for peace and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.” Many misuse that verse today by pulling it out of its historical setting and using it to claim guaranteed prosperity. But in context, Jehovah is speaking to exiles who would suffer seventy years of captivity first. The “future and hope” would not come until after long years of national discipline. Thus, “then” introduces a turning point—a change in disposition and attitude. When the suffering has done its work, when pride has been broken, then they will return in heart to Jehovah.

“To call upon” Jehovah is not a shallow request or casual acknowledgment. It is a cry for help, often marked by desperation and sincerity. The Hebrew word קָרָא (qara) implies calling out loudly, urgently, with intentionality. This is not ritualistic religion. This is true dependence.

For Judah, calling upon Jehovah meant abandoning idols, rejecting false prophets, and seeking the only true God. It meant coming to terms with the reason for their exile—their rebellion, injustice, and covenant-breaking. Only when they recognized their sin would they truly call on God.

This remains true today. Many claim to pray, but they have never truly called on Jehovah in faith and repentance. To call upon God in the biblical sense is to acknowledge one’s complete need and turn wholly to Him in humble appeal.

“And come and pray to me…”

The call to “come and pray” intensifies the commitment. Prayer is not merely speaking words—it is the act of drawing near to God in submission and trust. The Hebrew verb בּוֹא (bo’) for “come” emphasizes movement toward someone. Prayer, in this context, is not transactional; it is relational. It is the exiled people of God, broken and humbled, returning in heart and devotion to the God they had abandoned.

The Hebrew term פָּלַל (palal), translated “pray,” refers to intercession, supplication, and entreaty. It implies more than asking for things—it is about laying oneself before God and pleading according to His will. When the exiles prayed in this manner, they were not demanding restoration; they were seeking relationship. They were aligning themselves once again with the will of God.

This statement implies that true prayer is only possible when one has first repented. Jehovah does not listen to the prayers of the rebellious (see Isaiah 1:15; Proverbs 28:9). Only when there is a sincere return of the heart does He invite the exiled to come and pray.

In essence, this part of the verse teaches that God is not obligated to hear every prayer, but He promises to hear those who return to Him fully.

“And I will listen to you.”

This is the promise of Jehovah: “I will listen.” This does not mean He will merely hear the words. The Hebrew term שָׁמַע (shama’) means to hear attentively, to heed, to respond. It implies engagement, acceptance, and interaction.

This is extraordinary: the God who had allowed judgment to fall on His own covenant people was not finished with them. He had not abandoned them forever. Yes, the seventy years of exile were appointed because of their disobedience—but Jehovah remained faithful to His promises. He was still their God, and they were still His people.

His willingness to “listen” was not based on their worthiness, but on their repentance and His faithfulness. This is not a blank check for anyone to demand God’s attention. It is a sacred pledge to those who come in humility, recognizing His sovereignty and submitting to His will.

The restoration promised to the Jewish exiles in Babylon would eventually occur, beginning in 537 B.C.E. under the Persian ruler Cyrus, as Jehovah stirred the heart of that king to issue a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1–4). This historical fulfillment affirms that Jehovah’s promises are reliable, His plans unfold with precision, and His ears are open to the cry of the repentant.

Application: What Jeremiah 29:12 Teaches Us Today

God does not forget His people, even when disciplining them.
The seventy years of captivity were just, but not permanent. Jehovah’s promise to listen remained intact for those who would return to Him.
Calling on God requires full dependence and repentance.
True prayer is born from humility. God listens not to the proud or superficial, but to the lowly in heart.
Prayer is relational, not ritual.
The goal of prayer is not manipulation of God’s power, but restoration to God’s presence. The exiles were not just to ask for deliverance, but to return to Jehovah Himself.
God’s promises are always kept—but on His terms and timing.
The exiles had to wait seventy years. God was not slow. He was exact. Trust His timing and walk in obedience.
If we return to God sincerely, He will respond.
Whether Jew or Gentile, ancient or modern, the principle remains: God hears the penitent. He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).

Conclusion: God’s Ear Is Open to the Truly Devoted

Jeremiah 29:12 is not a verse of vague encouragement. It is a covenantal promise anchored in divine justice and mercy. Jehovah had disciplined His people, but He had not cast them off. He called them to seek Him once more—not through mere words, but through heartfelt turning. And He promised: “I will listen to you.”

This same God listens today—not to casual religious speech, but to the cry of the soul that turns from sin and seeks His face in truth. Call on Him. Come to Him. Pray to Him. And He will listen—because He is faithful.

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”

Let this promise shape your confidence and your conduct—especially in times of distress, exile, or correction. God is ready to hear. The question is: are you ready to return?

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).