When We’re in Captivity

 

“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.”

—Jeremiah 29:5

Do you sometimes feel like you’ve been carried off into captivity by our current secular, anti-Christian culture? Are you looking for some guidance as to how to live?

Maybe you’ve lost your job through no fault of your own and have not yet found a new one. Perhaps the circumstances of your life have changed dramatically because of something beyond your control and you even feel God has stopped listening to your prayers.

Let me suggest that you carefully read the following wise counsel that God gave to the people of Israel after the Babylonians carried them off into captivity, as recorded in Jeremiah 29:4-14:

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 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. 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.”

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. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 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.

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.

“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.”

Sometimes God wants to shape and mold us in a way that will make us more useful for His service. If we follow the pathway He has laid out for us and submit to the changes He brings into our lives, He will extend great love and caring to us.

Let’s begin this day with thankful hearts for His unfailing love, even during those times when we’re in captivity.

 

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