Scripture

Jeremiah 29:7 ESV

“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.”

Consider

Life is not random although sometimes it seems so. We can feel swept away on circumstances that make no sense and leave us feeling helpless. When tragedy strikes or evil asserts its power over us, we may wonder where God is, if he truly is sovereign, and if he really does care and have a plan for our lives.

The Bible assures us that God really does care and that he does have a plan. Moreover, his particular plans for us are always part of his big Plan, described by Jesus in the commission that he gave to his disciples and in the promise that God gave to Abram: I am sending you into the world to be a blessing, that through the gospel of God’s goodness you share, people will come to know Me.

In the Jeremiah passage quoted above, God was speaking to Jews who had been forcibly exiled from their beloved homeland to live among pagans in Babylon. God reassured his people by telling them, in effect: It is not by random chance that you find yourselves in Babylon. I have sent you here to be a blessing to these people. In blessing them with my goodness and shalom [peace and well-being], you too will find blessing and shalom.

We may not like our particular circumstances. There may be a coworker who gets on our nerves or a neighbor who gives us trouble. Perhaps a friendship has turned cold or we’re in constant conflict with a family member. We may struggle with painful memories that continue to disrupt our thoughts and rob us of peace. You may well ask yourself, what could God possibly be thinking to put me through all this trouble?

As it turns out, that’s exactly the right question to ask! By positioning you precisely where you are in a troublesome situation, God has a particular good in mind that he plans to bring to fruition. Honor God with your words and actions—forgive the undeserving, return kindness for cruelty, respond to anger with gentleness and patience—then watch for blessing and shalom to enter your circumstance. Ask yourself: What might this other person need that God has positioned me to supply? How might my sharing God’s goodness ease another’s suffering or confusion, perhaps enough to catch a glimpse of God Himself through my kindness? What could God teach me about himself as I obey him in the face of these difficulties?

Remember, God’s goodness doesn’t have anyone’s name on it except his own. When he gives it to you, God intends for you to share it with others. And when you do, he promises that blessing and shalom will return to you.

Pray

My Lord God, you alone are good. It is your goodness that creates and empowers every noble thought and worthy deed in this world. When I face a difficult situation, show me how to set aside my selfish desires so that I might give away the goodness you have been cultivating in me.

Reflect

Genesis 12:1-3; Matthew 28:19-20

Ponder

Where in my life am I uniquely positioned to bring blessing and shalom to another?