The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Hope in Exile

Jeremiah the prophet penned these words for those living in exile, to offer hope and perspective as they toiled in a foreign land, far from Jerusalem, their homeland’s capital and spiritual center. He reminds the exiles to keep living—to build homes, plant gardens, and marry.

Jeremiah reminds them of this powerful truth: exile should not prevent living.

While the exile of Israel may seem remote, you actually live as an exile on this earth. This is not your home, but if you believe there’s nothing to do but wait here complacently until the end comes, you will miss out on truly living. To have hope in exile is to live with fervor in the here and now. Jeremiah reminds you to seek the prosperity of the place where you’re living, not the place you hope to be. He basically states the familiar adage, “Bloom where you’re planted.”

You won’t always be in exile. There will come a day when God wipes every tear from your eyes, and there will no longer be death or mourning or weeping or pain (Revelation 21:4). But until then? Bloom. Live. Demonstrate your future hope by acting today to bless your present circumstances. There is much joyful work to do!

Lord, as I am exiled here, I pray you would help me to live with hope. I truly want to bloom where you’ve planted me, no matter my circumstances. Thank you for hope. Thank you for teaching me perseverance in exile. Amen.

Think back on all the places you’ve lived. Which place felt the most like exile? In what ways did God help you to bloom there?

Taken from the NIV Radiant Virtues Bible.