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1 These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 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 29:1, 4-7 NRSV)
A friend who also writes a daily devotional, today wrote where most of us do not have an idea what it's like to be exiled. To be moved to a new place without say. I felt a sudden sadness and I emailed him simply, "Our kids do." I have shared how the first call I had to make as a newly sworn-in district superintendent to a pastor letting him know he was moving, when I hung up I cried. In my mind I played out the entire scene of him telling his wife and then trying to think of a way to tell his children they were being uprooted from this place they had called home for x-number of years and going to a completely new place. I thought of the many places they would think might have usable boxes with which to pack their belongings, and wonder for how long would this new place be theirs? And I thought about the times our babies had to pack up and move because Daddy had been moved. They didn't understand the word or concept of promotion and better opportunities; they knew this was saying goodbye to old friends, and the fear of finding new ones. It meant Mommy would have to find yet another job teaching in yet another new school. Well deserved tears flowed.
Jeremiah writes to exiles in Babylon who are desperate to go home, clinging to false prophets promising a quick return to Jerusalem. But God's message through Jeremiah is stunning: don't just survive in exile—thrive there. Build houses, plant gardens, raise families, seek the city's welfare. This isn't resignation to defeat; it's a radical call to faithfulness in unwanted circumstances. The exiles wanted to hold their breath until they could return home, but God tells them to exhale, settle in, and invest in the very place that feels like punishment.
This challenges our instinct to put life on hold when circumstances aren't what we hoped. We often think faithfulness means waiting for better conditions—the right job, the ideal location, the perfect situation—before we fully engage. But God's instruction to the exiles reveals a different way: faithful presence wherever we are. The call isn't to love Babylon or pretend exile is home, but to live fully and invest deeply even in places we didn't choose and situations we'd rather escape.
The most countercultural command comes at the end: "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." God doesn't just ask them to tolerate Babylon—He calls them to work for its flourishing. The exiles' wellbeing is tied to Babylon's wellbeing, even though Babylon destroyed their temple and carried them away captive. This is the radical ethic of enemy-love before Jesus preached it—blessing those who harm you, praying for those who oppose you, seeking good for the place that feels like captivity.
What does this mean for us? It means faithfulness isn't conditional on favorable circumstances. Whether we're in jobs we didn't want, cities we didn't choose, seasons we wouldn't have picked, or situations that feel like exile—God calls us to build, plant, invest, and seek the welfare of the place where we find ourselves. Our flourishing and the flourishing of our community are intertwined. We're not called to withdraw, complain, or wait for rescue, but to live as people who bring blessing wherever God has placed us, even when that place feels far from home.
PRAYER: Lord, help us embrace faithful presence in the places we didn't choose, investing deeply and seeking the welfare of our communities, trusting that as we bless others we'll discover our own flourishing in unexpected ways. Bless and protect especially our children who sometimes make the bigger sacrifices; let them flourish and prosper; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, take one concrete action to contribute to the welfare of your community—whether through volunteering, supporting a local cause, or simply being a better neighbor—treating where you are as a place worth investing in rather than enduring.
I love you and I thank God for you. You matter to me and you matter to God. Find someone who needs to hear an uplifting word and make it matter to them.
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
