“I SENT YOU INTO EXILE!”

 Jeremiah 29:10-14                                (ESV)

“[10] “For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. [11] For I know THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, declares the LORD, plans for WELFARE and not for evil, to give you A FUTURE and A HOPE. [12] Then you will call upon ME and come and pray to ME, and I will hear you. [13] You will seek ME and find ME, when you seek ME with all your heart. [14] I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place FROM WHICH “I SENT YOU INTO EXILE”.”

It can be somewhat easy to “blame” others, even ourselves, for a predicament that we find ourselves in.  Experiencing difficulties in life causes me to imagine what it is that is bringing JUDGMENT into my life.  What could I have done differently to avoid whatever unpleasantries I am experiencing?  Or could it be that ALMIGHTY GOD is allowing me to go through a valley to grow me into a vessel for HIS GLORY?

My parents were divorced when I was barely four years old.  Being the only male amongst three females had its challenges.  Although GOD doesn’t need reasons FROM WHICH “I SENT YOU INTO EXILE”, I can NOW SEE how HE used going a wilderness to form my character, my inner self, into someone only HE can be GLORIFIED in?  

“I SENT YOU INTO EXILE” might appear to be a punishment for some, but GOD could be using the journey to mold our lives into something that HE is Glorified in the end?  Discerning what HE is up to is something that I “want to” be good at, but WALKING BY FAITH and accepting that HE IS IN CONTROL is what HE wants from me!  “I SENT YOU INTO EXILE” can be used for HIS GLORY!  TRUST HIM!!!