Earlier this year I set a goal to read through the Bible in 90 days. It's probably going to take me six months to read through the Bible in 90 days, but I'm going to get it done! Along the way, God has revealed much to me... Familiar treasures and new gems. I'm so glad I finally decided to make this commitment and stick with it.
The biggest blessing of the journey through the Bible has been the timeliness of the passages I've been reading. This has been a tough year for me personally. I lost a wonderful job that afforded me a lot of time at home, time at the school, time at Bible Study Fellowship, and time at church. God provided a new job right away - one that I enjoy, and for that I was and am ever so grateful. However, this new job required that I "go back to work" outside the home. All of a sudden I was thrust into a new life. The life of a working mom. Throw a two and one year old into the mix, and suddenly my life was radically different that it had been just a few short weeks earlier. I found myself grieving... hurting so much emotionally. I realized I was feeling a deep loss over losing my lifestyle.
About that time I was reading through the book of Jeremiah - The Weeping Prophet. I was weeping right along with him most days! I came upon Chapter 29. These are very familiar words to most of us. But at that moment I was really struggling with the "plans to prosper you...etc..." part of it. I didn't feel like I was prospering. I had lost the opportunity to spend my time doing what made me feel like "me". But I delved into the chapter anyway. For the first time, I put Jeremiah 29:11 into context. I realized that verse was written to a grieving and hurting community of Israelites...
4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 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.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 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. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
God had carried the Israelites into exile. They lost all that was familiar and comfortable. They had lost their homeland and their identity as a nation. But still God was with them. They were where God needed them to be. Even in the midst of exile and loss He was telling them to prosper! They were commanded to settle down, make new lives, find peace and prosperity... They were commanded to make the best of it! Eventually God would bring them back to Jerusalem, but for the time being they had to make the best of what they had. God did have a plan for them in Jerusalem, but in the meantime He had a plan for them right where they were.
I realized in reading (and crying through) that chapter, that I too felt exiled. I had lost what made me comfortable and cozy and happy. I had lost my easy going way of life. So, what was I going to do? Sit and pout (which I had gotten quite good at) and wait for God to give me back what I had known? Or, would I choose to make the best of what I had now? I am so grateful to the Lord for bringing that passage to me at just the right time. Each day I try to remind myself that this may not be the life I would have chosen or dreamed of. It's hard, it's tiring, and sometimes it's lonely... But it's the life God has given me. He has clearly carried me here, and I can choose to find the joy of my salvation and make the best of it.
Amazingly, with a good old fashioned attitude adjustment, I have found joy again. I am finding new ways to enjoy my life, my family, my church and God's Word. There are still things that aren't fun to me, but hey... that's life!
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