They
seem to be stuck in a dead-end job that they painfully endure; or they bounce
around from job to job, trying to find the one job that lights their fire for
about 15-20 years?
Or
perhaps it was the kids. While children were in the plans, they arrived a
little “too soon” and the career had to be put on the back burner for 5, 10, or
even 15 years…
Things,
specifically, life didn’t turn out the way this particular group of people had
hoped it would, so they are, shall we say, slightly sour.
Or
maybe you might be familiar with someone who is living in a place they really
don’t want to be living in.
ILLUSTRATION- I remember the first four
years of my pastorate in Havelock, a woman by the name of Sally.
She was living in a place she didn’t want to be living in, and she
reminded me every chance she got.
She
would often say, “I’m not from
here…”, or “this isn’t my home.” She would even
tell me “my friends aren’t here…”
When
I felt brave, I would remind Sally that I wasn’t from the area either, but that
fell on deaf ears more times than not.
Sally wasn’t
truly happy until she finally moved back home, although I don’t think she was
truly happy their either, but, I digress.
Maybe
it’s not as bad as an entire life; you like your job—most of the time—you like
where you’re living—except for all this snow—maybe it’s a season of life that
you don’t particularly like.
Maybe
something has happened to you in the last little while that you just can’t make
sense of.
You’re
constantly praying for things to change, but as of right now nothing has
changed.
What
you are experiencing at this phase of your life isn’t making you very happy,
and you have no idea what to do about it.
ILLUSTRATION- Maybe you’ve received a
diagnosis that your liver isn’t working as it should, and the only way to fix
the problem is to have a liver transplant that will require anywhere from a
6-12 hour operation.
It will also
require having tubes in places that tubes have no business being in.
After
the operation is over, it could require anywhere from 4-6 weeks of recovery in
the Halifax area, and then being put on anti-rejection drugs for the rest of
your life.
Even with the
transplant, there’s no guarantee this will fix one’s current situation.
And
just to make things even more interesting, you have been told that you are a
little too healthy for the operation; which means that you have to deal with
the effects of a not-working-properly-liver and all that goes along with that!
There
should be little doubt that most, if not all of us, have been involved in
seasons of life that we didn’t particularly like.
Some
of us are in one of those seasons right now; or you have come through one of
those seasons.
If have yet to
endure a situation like that, hang on to your hat, because one of those seasons
is coming your way.
The
question I have been pondering the last month or so, is what are you to do in those seasons of life?
What are we to do when things
happen that we wish wouldn’t happen?
I’m
not sure if I have the answer on my own; but as I’ve reflected on the Word of
God, I’ve found a word that fits the situation—no matter when we have to endure
them.
I’ve
entitled the message, “This is the new normal; get used to it” and it
comes from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah.
I
strongly believe that God’s Word is applicable for every stage of life,
especially when we find ourselves somewhere we don’t want to be, which is
exactly where God’s people found themselves in Jeremiah chapter 29.
We’re
going to walk through the first 14 verses of this chapter and see how God is with us; especially when
we find ourselves in places we really don’t want to be in.
I’ll
be reading primarily from the New Living Translation, second edition. You can
follow along on the screen, or in your Bible.
“Jeremiah
wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the
people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.” (Jer. 29:1, NLT2)
Jeremiah was one of several people
who were allowed to stay in Jerusalem while the rest of the people had been
carried off to a foreign land by King Nebuchadnezzar.
The reason for this Exile was due to the Israelites constant refusal
to obey the Lord and turn from their evil ways. (You can read about this in
Jeremiah 25:5-11)
Verse two says: “This…” this
means this letter that Jeremiah sent; “This was after King Jehoiachin, the queen mother, the court
officials, the other officials of Judah, and all the craftsmen and artisans had
been deported from Jerusalem.” (Jer.29:2,
NLT2)
King Jehoiachin ruled in Judah for 3
months and was a pagan king, so he, his mommy, and some of the best of the best
had been carted off to Babylon before Jerusalem completely fell in the year
586, which is the same year approximately that Jeremiah sent this letter to the
exiles living in Babylon.
Verse 3 says: “He- Jeremiah- sent the letter with Elasah son of Shaphan and
Gemariah son of Hilkiah when they went to Babylon as King Zedekiah’s
ambassadors to Nebuchadnezzar….”(Jer.29:3, NLT2)
Jeremiah sent this letter with a
group of people from the new king of Judah, Zedekiah, who was a puppet king,
put in place by king Nebuchadnezzar, and some scholars believe that Zedekiah
was sending an assurance to King Neb. That he would be loyal to him.
Just so we are all clear as to
what’s going on: Jeremiah sent a letter from Jerusalem to the Israelites who
were being held captive in a foreign land, a land they didn’t want to be living
in.
“This is what Jeremiah’s letter said: This is what the Lord
of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled
to Babylon from Jerusalem:” (Jer.29:3b-4,
NLT2)
Now, imagine living in a place you
didn’t want to be living in, and you get an email from the prophet who is
living in the place you want to be living in…. you’d probably reach for your
suitcase; because it’s time to go back home…
Steve Wingfield says that: “None of them
liked being held prisoner in Babylon.
Heathen idols everywhere, their food was
sacrificed in heathen temples, and the dress of the Babylonians was different.”
(Wingfield,
2001, 154)
The people didn't like where they
were, and maybe the people thought that this was their ticket out of there.
As they are packing their bags, they
hear the word of God, given to the prophet Jeremiah:
“Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the
food they produce.
6 Marry and have children. Then find
spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not
dwindle away!” (Jer.29:5-6, NLT2)
“What
did you say God? We’re to do what? Build houses? Plant gardens? Marry Jewish
spouses? Have children?
Are we really supposed to put down roots
in this land that we don’t want to be living in? Are you serious God?”
Chances are excellent that this was not
what the Exiles wanted to hear.
Again they were in a land that they
didn’t want to be living in (because of their constant refusal to obey the
Lord) and their prophet tells them in an email that God wanted them to go to
the Babylon Depot and make treehouses for the grandkids?
Let’s keep reading; look at verse 7:
“And work for
the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its
welfare will determine your welfare.” (Jer.29:7, NLT2)
What was God saying to the people? This was the new normal; get
used to it.
The Exiles were not to limp along in
their new lives complaining about the hand they had been dealt.
They were to thrive in this new land,
the land they didn’t want to be living in.
If they did well in Babylon, Babylon
would do well. “Pray
to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
(Jer.29:7, NIV)
The people were to spend time
praying for an enemy nation; which is eerily similar to the words of Jesus,
found in Matthew chapter 5: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate
your enemy.'
44
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
(Matthew 5:43-44, NIV)
God wanted His people to thrive in the land they were stuck in.
There is a lesson in this for all of us. No matter what season of life we are in; we are to
trust that God knows what He is doing.
Go back and take a look at the references as to who had sent the
people to Babylon…
Verse 4: “…the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon…” (NIV)
Verse 7: “…seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.” (NIV)
While it was
the sin of the people that had led them to a place they didn’t want to be in;
God was still with them.
This is reminiscent of what God told Joshua: “…the LORD your God will be with you wherever
you go." (Joshua 1:9b NIV)
There is no place that you or I will ever be where God is not. Here
that again Church: There
is no place that you or I will ever be where God is not.
The Psalmist said: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your
presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the
depths, you are there.
9 If
I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:7-10, NIV)
Church: we need to know that there is no place that we can go that
God will not be!
There is no
season of life that we have to endure without God’s Holy Spirit! Even when we find ourselves in a situation that
we really don’t want to be in.
Jeremiah 29 reminds us that God is
with us even in the worst possible situations.
It’s what we do; or rather who we listen to, when we are in these
situations that will determine our survivability.
Look at verses 8-9: “This is what the
Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and
fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you.
Do
not listen to their dreams, 9 because they are telling you lies in my name. I
have not sent them,” says the Lord.” (Jer. 29:8-9, NLT2)
While in Exile, the people were checking twitter and Facebook for
status updates as to how long they were going to be in the foreign land, and
they had people telling them they wouldn’t be there very long; but God
specifically said that wasn’t the case…
Which proves that we can be listening to the wrong voices when we
are in a season of life that we don’t like.
You can and you will find someone who will tell you what you want to
hear, instead of what you need to hear. So be selective as to who you turn to
in this season of life...
Maybe, just maybe, you’ll have to endure this season of life that
you just don’t like for an indefinite amount of time.
Maybe, just maybe, you’ll have to spend one day to the next
wondering if you’re going to be feeling well or not.
Maybe, just maybe, you’ll have to live in a place that’s not your
home for a period of 70 years…
This was God’s word to the exiles: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years.” (Jer.29:10a,
NLT2)
I imagine that news of the 70 year captivity stunned the
captives—most were in their 20’s—they wanted to go home ASAP—not wait.
Waiting 70 years meant that they would be over 90 before they could
return to their land; if they didn’t die in captivity first. (txs to Steve
Wingfield for helping this thought along)
There might be a season of waiting in your life, but know Dear
Friend, that God will be with you in your season of waiting.
I know this because of the words Jeremiah wrote next: “But then I will
come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you
home again.
11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good
and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
12 In
those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly,
you will find me.
14 I
will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore
your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will
bring you home again to your own land.” (Jer.29:10b-14,
NLT2)
God had promised
that He would deliver His people from where they didn’t want to be; from
living a life they didn’t want to be living; if—and don’t miss this—they would search for Him with their entire heart.
No matter where you find yourself today: If you’re living a life you
don’t want to be living; or if you’re living in a land you don’t want to be
living in; or if you’re enduring a season of life you really don’t want to be
enduring; you need to know that God has not forsaken you.
God is still for you and He wants you to search for Him, especially
in this season of life.
So as we prepare to transition into a time of reflection, I want you
to know that God is waiting for you to call out to Him in this season of your
life; whatever that may look like for you.
Isaiah reminded us to: Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while
he is near.
7 Let
the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let
them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for
he will forgive generously.” (Isaiah 55:6-7, NLT2)
Even though this may be the new normal for most of us, God hasn’t abandoned
us, He hasn’t forsaken us, and He will show up in our lives in awesome ways if
we will call out to Him.
Life may not have turned out exactly has you had planned on; but God
is still God, and He will be with you every step of the way… even if you are
living a life you don’t want to be living.
Let’s sing this next song and be reminded that no matter where we
are in life, God is Stronger!
