Planted, Not Misplaced
Devotional week 32
Jeremiah 29:7 – “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.”
I had never left my home state in the South before. So when I moved to the North for the first time, it felt like stepping into a different world. The journey was long and dusty. The roads stretched endlessly. The weather was dry and hot, unlike the green, humid South I was used to. Then came the food — different textures, different tastes. Everything felt unfamiliar. I missed home almost immediately.
I counted the days, hoping the assignment would end quickly so I could go back.
But something unexpected began to happen. Slowly, I started to notice things I hadn’t before: the kindness in the people, the strength in their community, the quiet rhythm of life. I started seeing the place not as a mistake or a punishment, but as somewhere God had allowed me to be.
This experience reminded me of Jeremiah 29:7. The Israelites had been taken far from home and were living in exile in Babylon. They were confused and hurting, just trying to survive until they could leave. But God had a surprising message for them: Don’t just wait it out. Settle in. Plant gardens. Raise families. And most importantly, pray for the city. If it thrives, you’ll thrive too. Why? Because their peace was connected to the peace of that place.
Sometimes, we only want to “get through” the hard or unfamiliar seasons. But God invites us to grow in them. He wants us to care, serve, and pray even when we feel out of place. And as we do, we also receive the blessing of growth and peace.
You may feel out of place, but you’re not out of God’s plan. He can use your presence to bring peace and blessing, not just for others, but for you too.
Challenge
What if, instead of counting the days until you leave, you asked God to show you how to live and bless others while you’re here? Look for one simple way to bring peace or kindness to your current environment this week.
Prayer
God, help me to care for the place You’ve brought me to, and to grow even when it feels unfamiliar.