Faithful In Strange Places

 

But seek the welfare

      of the city

where I have sent you

            into exile,

and pray to the LORD

     on its behalf,

for in its welfare

you will find 

         your welfare.

        Jeremiah 29. 7

Even in this strange place,

God sends us here

  for His good purposes,

separated from what we know

and sometimes feeling captive

   by our circumstances. 

Instead of grumbling,

what if we approached and

  navigated it differently?

Seek the peace,

wholeness, health and

  relationships

where God has placed us

--even in the most unlikely

    situations today.

We can begrudge our conditions

    or pray in those circumstances

for God's Presence and purposes.

Not just for a better attitude,

     but to find us faithful.

O LORD,

Seeking Your designs, 

  and not our own comfort,

may land us in a barren spot

  which is right in the center

  of Your will for us.

Grant us the courage to go there

    with great resolve,

not to make the best of it,

but to bring Your name there.

Help us to seek the wellbeing

    of those around us,

be it strangers or

    those all too familiar,

those who know You

    or don't know you yet,

even among the rebellious

 that You may dwell there.