I've been sitting with Jeremiah 29:4-14 these past few weeks. The familiar and comforting verse 11 is tucked right in the middle of it. Though that was not what God has been using to teach me lately. In this passage, God's message is for the Israelites who are exiles in Babylon. Verse 7 is where my eyes were opened.
"Make yourselves at home there and work for the country's welfare. Pray for Babylon's well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you."
It speaks to my need to try to pray my way out of situations, places, seasons of life etc. Out of Babylon, and out of exile. But it sounds like God is asking me to actually make my home in a place of exile. To raise a family there. To plant a garden. To stay for awhile. And, amazingly, to pray for Babylon's well-being. What would that look like? If I draw some parallels to what my personal Babylons are, what would it look like for me to pray for the well-being of a place of exile? The promise is right there: If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for me.
What if that's true?
-Candice
1 comment:
Love it! Thanks so much for the gift of sharing what you are learning. Beautiful passage and perspective.
Post a Comment