Have you ever found yourself in a difficult place?
Supporting Scripture: Genesis 3:23-24 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity
Our longing has a focus: for Jesus to and make everything that we might dwell with Him in joy forever.
Supporting Scripture: 1 Peter 1:17 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
Supporting Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
Supporting Scripture: Hebrews 13:14 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
One characteristic of a faithful exile is intimacy with Jesus.
Supporting Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
Supporting Scripture: Jeremiah 29:4 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
Supporting Scripture: Jeremiah 29:12-14 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
Supporting Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:29-31 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
Supporting Scripture: John 6:37 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
Supporting Scripture: Proverbs 8:17 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
Supporting Scripture: Jeremiah 29:5-7 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
A second characteristic of a faithful exile is to have faith in every part of your life.
Supporting Scripture: Genesis 1:28 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
Supporting Scripture: Genesis 12:3 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
Supporting Scripture: Matthew 5:14 (ESV)
+ Click to add your own note
Reflecting on Jeremiah 29:4-14, which addresses the Israelites living in exile, can provide profound insights into coping with displacement, maintaining faith, and finding purpose in challenging circumstances. Here are some personal reflection questions based on this passage:
- Settling in Unfamiliar Places:
- How do you respond to being placed in an unfamiliar or uncomfortable environment?
- What steps can you take to “build houses and settle down” (v. 5) in your current situation, making it more conducive to growth and stability?
- Fostering Community:
- How can you contribute to the welfare of the community where you are currently situated, even if it feels temporary or undesired?
- In what ways can you “seek the peace and prosperity of the city” (v. 7) where you live?
- Long-term Vision:
- How do you maintain hope and a positive outlook when your desired outcomes seem far off, as the Israelites had to wait 70 years (v. 10)?
- What long-term goals can you set for yourself that align with God’s promises and plans for you?
- Faith and Trust in God’s Plan:
- How do you trust in God’s plans for you, even when you can’t see the immediate benefits or understand the reasons behind your current circumstances?
- Reflect on times when you felt abandoned or lost. How can you use those experiences to strengthen your faith in God’s plan for your future (v. 11)?
- Prayer and Seeking God:
- How often do you turn to prayer when you are in distress or facing challenges?
- What practices can you adopt to ensure that you “call upon” God and seek Him with all your heart (v. 12-13)?
- Hope and Restoration:
- What promises from God give you hope and encouragement during difficult times?
- How can you remind yourself of God’s promise to “bring you back from captivity” and restore your fortunes (v. 14)?
- Personal Growth in Exile:
- How can your current trials and hardships contribute to your personal and spiritual growth?
- In what ways can you find meaning and purpose in your current “exile” or challenging situation?
- Relationship with God:
- How does your relationship with God change when you are in a situation of exile or displacement?
- What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God during such times?
- Community and Family:
- How can you support and build up those around you, particularly family and close friends, during times of collective hardship?
- What role does community play in maintaining a sense of normalcy and hope during difficult times (v. 6)?
- Gratitude and Perspective:
- How can you cultivate a sense of gratitude even when circumstances are tough?
- What positive aspects of your current situation can you focus on to maintain a hopeful and optimistic perspective?
Reflecting on these questions can help you navigate the challenges of feeling exiled or dislocated while holding onto faith and finding purpose in your journey.