A couple of years ago, I experienced what felt like an all-out betrayal (which is an exile of sorts) by someone close to me. I was hurt, and I grieved the loss of relationship through tears for weeks. When I would recount the experience, listing off all of the felt injustices to my husband, he would say this:
“I know. I’m so sorry.”
“But don’t you love Jesus more now?”
Maybe it seems an insensitive way to respond to a weeping wife (as I did for a split second), but I thank God for a husband who offers truth in the midst of emotion.
You certainly won’t find me out there looking for more betrayals and conflicts, but I do love Jesus more for the ones I’ve experienced. He met me in my grief. He taught me to not put my hope in people. He reminded me of His steadfast love – the kind others aren’t able to give perfectly. I read His Word more. I prayed more. I poured out my heart more and was met with more grace and strength by the One who had experienced a betrayal much, much greater than mine.
Why did God require a 70 year exile to Babylon for His children? Because they had not chosen to know and walk closely with Him at home – in the Promised Land, in Jerusalem, their holy city.
It’s in our exile that we learn to love our real home as we should. And our real home is in Christ.
But listen to that famous verse to exiles again:
“For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'” Jeremiah 29:10-11
Some versions say “I know the thoughts I think toward you” and this is what Charles Spurgeon had to say about that:
“Yet what God told the exiles through Jeremiah was even better. God does not only think of His people, His thoughts are toward them. The Lord not only thinks of you, but towards you. His thoughts are all drifting your way.”
Instead of punishing the exiles forever and not granting them any hope of redemption or rescue, He assures them of His plan and His promises for the future. He is coming for them eventually, and in the meantime His thoughts and plans are for them.
I don’t really anticipate a permanent return to my home in Texas – at least not anytime soon. But I do love Texas more now than I did when I lived there. I appreciate the temperatures, the landscape, the food, the history, and the culture much more than I did when I was swimming in it – sometimes literally. (Have I mentioned the rivers and lakes? Gorgeous!) And I appreciate my Savior more when He allows different sorts of exiles in my life.
Israel’s sin exiled them from their homeland and the temple leaving them in Babylon. Our sin exiled us from God’s presence and a glorious garden leaving us in this fallen world. But God still promises us a rescue and a return to the garden – if we acknowledge and receive forgiveness for that sin.
The only way He could promise this rescue?
To become an exile Himself.
He did that in Jesus, who chose exile from heaven, put on flesh, and died on a cross for the sin that caused our own banishment. Then He resurrected showing power and authority over the death that sin brought about. (And trust me, the exile from Texas to Massachusetts was really nothing compared to the exile from heaven to earth.)
If you have placed your faith in Jesus you can hope in the same promise the Babylonian exiles received from God – that He is coming back for you. He will eventually return you to your true and new home with Him.
And not only do you have future hope, but you also have present help…Help to bloom where you are planted. Strength to remain, to settle, to surrender – no matter what your current circumstances are.
His plans and His thoughts are all drifting your way.
Are you walking through a difficult season (or the end) of marriage?
Is He asking you to be pure, patient, and faithful in your singleness?
Are you exhausted by the difficulties and challenges of parenting?
Is He asking you to keep praying for and being patient with a rebellious child?
Do you need to be strong for and keep striving with a sick child or an elderly parent who requires great care?
Is your family and homeland thousands of miles away?
Are family dynamics a source of pain or discouragement?
Do anxiety or depression (or both) overcome you?
Is your work environment frustrating, demeaning?
Are people taking for granted your faithful volunteer efforts?
Has a friend betrayed you?
Are finances dwindling?
Do you have dreams and desires that seem disregarded or shut down by God Himself?
All of the above, different facets and layers of living in exile. And though seemingly impossible at times, all fertile ground for blooming, too. Not so fun at times. Often uncomfortable. Sometimes totally heart-wrenching. Still, I thank God for my exile and the for the growth and blossoming He’s accomplished through them.
And some sweet day, near or distant, I’ll finally get to return to Tex-Mex and temps above 70.
Just kidding. I’ll finally get to live fully and wholly in and with Jesus.
I can’t wait.
Until then, praying to blossom and grow in this exile.