Bloom Where You’re Planted

I bless you to bloom
In the desert—
To flourish
In the season of exile.

When Nebuchadnezzar’s troops
Trotted off God’s people
To Babylon,
Displacing the chosen
From their homes and businesses
And temple and families,
They would be tempted
To postpone living—
To wait until life was “normal”
Before investing their souls.

But God’s word came the exiles:
“Build houses …
Plant gardens …
Take wives …
Have children …
Multiply….” (Jer. 29:6)

When you’re in exile—
The in-between place—
The space between
“This isn’t like my comfortable past”
And
“This is where I am ultimately destined,”
Flourish anyway!

If you’re in exile,
May you
Build … Plant.. Multiply!
Bloom where you are planted child of God.
Bloom right where you are.