Bloom Where You are Planted...

Jeremiah 29:1-11 (Click on reference to read text)

My husband and I are in the process of praying for the Lord's direction for our family. We desire His will and long to follow His leading. There are definite seasons in all believer's lives where we really are seeking out the heart of God and His will for our life.

However, often during these times of great seeking, waiting for the answer is almost debilitating. We may find ourselves no longer living in the present and being faithful where He has us now, because we are so wrapped up in where He wants us to be! I truly believe this is not of the Lord.

Although we are all familiar with Jeremiah 29:11, it is important to read and know the verses that precede it. The Israelites were in exile and they were definitely waiting for the Lord to give them a "go"! They were living for the promise that the Lord would bring them back to their home and prosper them, giving them a future and a hope! However, the Lord commands them to build houses (where they were), to live in them, to plant gardens, to marry and have children, to actually seek out the welfare of the city they were living in NOW (notice not their future city, but where they found themselves today), to pray to the Lord for that city they were living in NOW (vs. 4-7).

For lack of a better word, God wanted them to "bloom where they were planted." Where has God planted you? Is it in your ideal place? Are you waiting for God to fulfill His promise to you, "I have a plan to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope" (vs. 11)? Then start planting. Don't get so wrapped up in His potential future plans for you that you miss out on all the opportunity He has for you now. His promises always come to fruition. In His timing! We must not squander the time we have today, longing for tomorrow's promise.

So as I wait on His voice and leading for my family, I am going to spend my day going to the grocery store, taking my children on a walk with my neighbor, hosting events at my house to reach my community for the Lord, and if and when He opens that next door, I will be obedient and ready to walk through it.