January 16, 2016

I’ve been reading through the book of Jeremiah. The context of this book is God telling the people of Israel that because of their disobedience, they will be sent into exile to Babylon. In the mid-20s chapters, the Lord tells His people that they should listen to Him and just go to Babylon. There they will be safe. He will make sure of it. He goes one step further and tells them to build homes, cultivate farms, marry people of that land (Jeremiah 29:4-7)… then He goes on to tell them to trust Him because He knows the plans He has for them.

Reading this verse in context unnerved me a little. I was confused. Here God was sending His people to a place they didn’t want to go and if they did go in obedience, He would fulfill the wonderful plans He had for them. This got me thinking. What was I to learn from this? Was God asking me to go back to India? But I do want to go back. He doesn’t have to convince me to do that. He just needs to say the word!

Then I realized. India is not my Babylon. America is. I never wanted to come here but I did, in obedience. But while here I was constantly afraid of laying down my roots because, well, I could go back to India any day! I think though, today, God was very clear about what He wanted me to do. I felt like He’s telling me to quit looking over my shoulders to India and wondering when I’ll go home, because, I’m already home. America is now my home.

It’s time I laid down my roots. I think that’s also why the Lord had me take some bold steps from time to time that I, in my own strength, would never have been able to do. It was His way of telling to stop putting my life on hold, to stop looking over my shoulders to India, and finally laying down my roots here, in America, which is now my home!

Where is the Lord calling you today? Do you feel as if moving in obedience is just too overwhelming to make any sense? May I encourage you to trust in the Lord? He knows what He is doing.

“”For I know the plans I have you” Declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not harm you, to give you a hope and a future”” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

In closing I have to say – I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!