Are you sitting down? I mean, comfortably? Is everything in order around you—dishwasher running, floors swept, dinner in the oven, finances in order, the right color of throw pillows on your bed, exciting opportunities on the horizon, and peace within and all around you? Sometimes the stars align and all our circumstances seem to be exactly under control. I like to wait for that moment to start writing. Or to sit to read my Bible. I used to feel like I was waiting until I was married to really start living. But now that I am married with a family of my own, there’s always one more piece I determine to be missing from the puzzle—one more excuse to keep me from faithful obedience.
It’s hard to lean in and flourish when you’re waiting for everything to be perfect. Judah was in exile, living in Babylon, with every reason to give up and just spend years sitting angrily with their arms crossed. But Jeremiah calls them to walk in ordinary obedience, to be a blessing to the nation they are in. “Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive” (Jeremiah 29:7). They had every reason to hate the Babylonians, but they were deported by the righteous judgment of God, who was now calling them to repent, and walk in ordinary, daily obedience.
Often we want our repentance to be a single extravagant display of remorse. Then, after we think we’ve made a big enough deal about how sorry we are, we want everything to go back to normal: we want to have our own way again, and we want the consequences—the deportations, so to speak—to be reversed. But here we learn much about the true nature of grace and a relationship with God: repentance and forgiveness, obedience and blessing.
First, true repentance isn’t focused on the removal of consequences. It is a return to obedience. Genuine remorse for sin produces a heart that turns away from sin and loves righteousness, no matter the circumstances. Second, God’s forgiveness isn’t really even about circumstances. We can’t judge our position before God simply by how well we seem to be doing on the outside. His forgiveness begins by changing our hearts and our spiritual position before Him. Our temporal circumstances are a secondary matter. Third, God calls us to obedience at all times. Repentance produces obedience, and grace bears the fruit of obedience. Obedience is the right response to every circumstance, whether good or ill. And ordinary, daily obedience—loving our neighbors, being fruitful, making disciples—is to be a continual mark of God’s people.
We are called to be a blessing, even to our captors. Though this runs counter to every human inclination, it should be no surprise. It is, after all, at the heart of God’s covenant promise to Abraham: “All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3), and in Christ’s command to His disciples: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Every judgment of God is a gift of His mercy and grace. Even in a foreign land, God promises His people the grace of His presence: “I will be found by you” (Jeremiah 29:14). As He forgives their iniquities, He gives them Himself, and beckons them to share their knowledge of Him with the nations. This is the call that has gone out since the beginning of the world: repent and believe in the one true God. Be fruitful and multiply. Go and make disciples. For the kingdoms of this world will “become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and he will reign forever and forever” (Revelation 11:15, ESV).
We are all sojourners in a strange land, wanderers like Abraham, like Israel and Judah. Christ calls us to allegiance to a kingdom that is not of this world: to pray to Him and search for Him with all our hearts (Jeremiah 29:12–13). He calls us to remember that whether we are in our own land or in exile, we are ambassadors for His kingdom. The ordinary obedience of believers is perhaps the chief defense to a watching world, the beauty of the gospel pointing to the glory of the kingdom of Christ.
Hi Ashley McCoy! Your post struck something in my heart as I am 23 as well. I have what you may call a “big girl” job but still feel lost from time to time though. I love what you said about focusing on where He has put you, being a blessing wherever you are at, and trusting that He has you exactly where He needs you. Your words will be an encouragement for me today, and I will send prayers your way :)
Thank you so much for your encouragement Mikki ❤️
This hits me right where I live! I’m awful about waiting or wanting some other piece to be in place before I do x. And I confess Jeremiah 29:11 has long been my favorite verse but I am completely guilty of taking it out of context and expecting God to wave a magic wand and make everything “perfect”. Goodness it is humbling and yet freeing to come face to face with the truth of yourself. That’s what this study is all about really. Thank you for your writing today Rebecca. Thank you God for your immutable faithfulness.
Amen! I relate to all you said.
Ohhh, how my anxious mind and heart needed this devotion today. In a world where everything feels so uncertain – with a long road of continued uncertainty ahead – I long for the “normalcy” I realize I have truly taken for granted. When the fear weighs me down, I have to force myself to pray and think “Faith over fear”. This season of life that we’re all experiencing globally can either define us or defeat us. We have to CONSTANTLY lean on God – the One who says, “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. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me WHOLEHEARTEDLY [emphasis added], you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord.” – Jeremiah 29: 11-14a NLT The footnotes in my NLT Bible for Jeremiah 29: 4-7 say, “Life cannot grind to a halt during troubled times. In an unpleasant or distressing situation, me must adjust and keep moving…When you enter times of trouble or sudden change, pray diligently and move ahead, doing whatever you can rather than giving up because of fear and uncertainty.” Praise be to God who gives us the strength, courage, peace, comfort, and mercy that we need, crave, and do not deserve. Oh, how He loves us.
Appreciate your words, Kayla. Especially appreciated the footnotes encouragement of praying diligently, moving ahead and doing whatever you can rather than giving up because of fear and uncertainty. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and sound mind/self control (2 Tim 1:7)! ❤️
Hi Kaitlyn,
I was thinking of you after I finished reading today, and I had to jump back on. I was thinking that maybe you could listen to the Bible as you are doing other things, play worship music, or have Christian shows or podcasts on in the background. I have really enjoyed listening to podcasts as I’m driving, cooking, and cleaning. Tim Keller has one called:Gospel in Life, Unashamed by the Robertson family(Duck Dynasty), and of course, the She Reads Truth podcast! I just wanted to offer other ways of getting His Word to You! I am not the most technologically savvy person, but I have the podcast app, and there are many to choose from! I also just talk with God too! Hope this helps! He knows your heart for sure! May you have a blessed day and feel His Loving Presence all around!
Great suggestions!
I also enjoy listening to the Dwell scripture app that has so many different plans to have Scripture read over you too. SRT podcast and Tim Keller are excellent too! Would also recommend Glorious in the Mundane by Christy Nockels ❤️
I’m at a crux in my life right now. I was a Full time nanny but since the parents I work for started working from home, they no longer need me. I knew I didn’t want to be a nanny forever- I’m 23 but only just now about to get my associates degree. So this morning I have an interview at the fresh market- a local grocery store. I am struggling to not let my circumstances define me and not compare to all the “big girl” jobs my friends are doing right now. I believe God has a purpose right now though. And while I’m passing through I will pursue the well being of wherever He has placed me. I will focus on ordinary obedience and be a blessing wherever I am. And today reminded me that God has good plans for me! Plans for my good and not for disaster! I can be successful right where I am just through ordinary obedience. And I can be fulfilled no matter where I am because He promises He can be found as I seek Him whole heartedly. So thankful for SRT this morning as I woke up in a funk but was guided back to the truth through this devotion today❤️
Girl I have been there! Not to long ago I worked at a grocery store and often struggled with letting that define me. I now work at a job that is more of a ‘big girl’ job haha but honestly the way I got it was all God. No amount of me trying to plan everything would have done it. Just ordinary obedience like you said. Side note big girl job doesn’t equal figured it out. Still over here just trying my best :) I believe in you Ashley!!
Thank you sisters!!! How encouraging your words were to my heart this morning… also: I got the job and not only that, but was offered higher pay than expected!!! And my manager is so wonderful. Totally God orchestrated, you are right! Thank you ladies❤️
Absolutely every thought of today’s reading, and every reply touched me! I feel like I am among close friends that really ” get me” today!
I haven’t always observed Lent, because it wasn’t emphasized in my church. I started on my own a few years ago. This year I decided to not give up a food, but to focus on whittling away at my critical spirit. I wanted to repent, be forgiven and return to obedience and be a blessing. I feel like all I did was give the devil a challenge and he laughed.
We raised 3 children that left our small town to pursue careers and start homes and families 4 hours away from us. I was looking forward to finally being able to go visit them and be grandma. Instead, I am caregiver to my 93 year old father in-law in our home, while my husband works. My mother is on lock-down in a facility hours away from me with Alzheimer’s that I have had few opportunities to go see. On February 28, 2020 I finally got the courage to ask her face-to-face if she knew who I was….she smiled and said, ” I don’t think so.” My youngest daughter is due to have her first baby in a few days and I haven’t been able to be there for her as much as I wanted to be. Now, we won’t be allowed to go in the hospital for the birth. She is emotional over the thought of no one being there with them, and so am I.
My life is covered in blessings! I have so much to be thankful for! How do I get my heart to stop longing for different circumstances?
“His forgiveness begins by changing our hearts and our spiritual position before Him.”
Lord, ” cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for in you do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you” Psalms 143:8
Yes, Karen. You have a lot going on in your life right now. And as Rebecca said, ordinary obedience is what God desires. Taking care of the daily responsibilities. Regardless of the circumstances. Knowing that God is near and He loves you. He is not surprised by what is happening in our world. And He has a perfect plan. Our plans seem to be on hold. At least for now. My husband and I had to cancel our trip to Oregon to spend time with our daughter’s family (two grands), and I am terribly disappointed. But God…
He has reassured me that there is a purpose in this. I just have to trust Him.
Oh yes. There’s that lesson again. Trust God.
Even after 60 years He still has to remind me.
But I’m still willing to listen. And obey.
Blessings to you, sweet sister. ❤️
I love how it was it put: “walk in ordinary obedience”.
So often I feel I need to be doing big, grand things for the Lord to truly be walking well with him (a lie that so often floods my thinking). This is a sweet reminder that the Lord desires my simple, daily obedience.
Being in my late 20s, 3 months away from getting married and working for a large Christian non-profit, I so often find myself struggling to feel I need to have it all together and be impacting the many—but I can be faithful to love my fiancé, my coworkers, and the college students I work with like Christ and to walk in simple obedience today, tomorrow and everyday. That will leave impact simply by pursuing Christ.
You ladies- my sisters – are an awesome blessing. So thankful for time with you and our Father each day!!