READ: JEREMIAH 29:1-14

Jeremiah 29:1-14 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible, and, if I’m being honest, one that I struggle with a lot. In this passage, most of Israel had just been taken captive by the Babylonians, who were pagans and had been enemies of Israel for a very long time. After the Israelites were taken captive, some prophets started saying God would come to their rescue quickly, defeating Babylon and restoring the Israelites’ freedom very soon.

But God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah to say these predictions were lies, and the people touting them were false prophets. Instead, God told His people to get comfy because they were going to be in captivity for a while. Yet He promised to be with them, even in Babylon, and He had good work for them to do there. He said, “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren” (verse 5-6). Even more surprising, He told them to pray for Babylon and “work for the peace and prosperity of the city” of their enemies (verse 7)!

Sometimes I feel like the Israelites—stuck in a situation I hate, just looking for a way out. I spend so much time looking for future rescue that I don’t see what Jesus is doing right here, right now, in the middle of my “exile.” I forget He is here with me. Instead of asking Jesus what He wants me to do, I look for ways to take control and even to withdraw into myself—trying to isolate myself from God and others.

When we find ourselves in situations we hate, as Christians, we can take comfort knowing Jesus is right there with us. If we rely on Him to help us resist the temptation to rush through the present, He will show us all the richness He has for us right here, right now. • Taylor Eising

• How might knowing that Jesus is with us in our times of “exile” bring us comfort and purpose?

• When we’re hurting, God doesn’t tell us to ignore our pain, stuff it down, and just get to work. Instead, He invites us to bring our pain to Him with raw honesty while we continue to serve Him and trust Him in the present. How could you practice this in your own life?

• How can looking to Jesus make it possible for us to serve wherever God has placed us, even when we consider the people around us to be our enemies? (Hint: read Romans 5:1-11)

“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7 (NLT)

READ: JOHN 15:5; ACTS 17:13–18:5

Waiting is the worst. Or maybe I’m just the worst at waiting. Especially in the high school years, “real” life seems far away and dreams look distant. It’s easy to think about what we want to do and how we want to serve God in the future. It’s way harder to live that out now.

A few years ago, I saw a need at my school and decided that, no matter how small my platform, I’d let God work through me to meet that need. It was amazing to see God work as I stood on a literal stage (the smallest stage on campus!) and used the talents He had given me to point my peers to Jesus. I’d never felt more humbled to be used by the Creator.

Paul found himself in a similar situation in Acts 17. He’d reached Athens and was waiting for his friends (verse 16). In other words, even Paul, one of the most famous people in the New Testament, knew what it was to wait! But, rather than just sit around, Paul used the marketplace to tell people about Jesus. He was waiting actively.

Yeah, sometimes waiting is hard. But even in the waiting, God is working. Waiting actively means living life with Jesus, being attentive to His leading no matter where we are or what season we’re in—trusting that He is working even when we don’t see it.

No matter what you’re waiting on, you can serve Jesus right where you are. You can use the crumbly floor of your cafeteria, the gravelly road as you wait for the bus, and even the carpet of your living room. Whatever season God has you in, wait actively. Know that He is working in your life right now. As you abide in Jesus, you never know what He’ll do through you! • Sarah Rexford

• What are you waiting on in this season? How might this season of your life change if you started living like you believe Jesus is working during the waiting?

• It’s easy for anxiety to creep in as we wait. Do you have any favorite Bible verses or passages that show Jesus’s faithfulness? If not, who are trusted Christians in your life who could help you find some? How could you set aside time to ponder Scriptures like these in times of waiting?

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

READ: LUKE 15:1-3, 8-10; 19:10

Cadlyn’s hand froze as she reached up to push her hair back, hovering over the empty space where the coin should have been. Her heartbeat quickened, and her fingers fumbled in her haste to pull the headdress off. Elegant silk and silver coins shone up at her. Cadlyn’s heart sank. It was as she had feared: a coin was missing. Nine silver coins like full moons embroidered into the headpiece, and one empty circle of thread.

How could it have fallen out? What will I tell Jorar? she silently cried. She’d been married barely a month; the headdress had been his wedding gift, and Cadlyn treasured it dearly.

Surely it was around here somewhere. Determined, Cadlyn set her headdress on a chair and took a match, lighting a candle. The coin had to have come loose while she was working, and she was going to find it. She snatched up the broom in the corner and set to work. There were nooks and crannies everywhere, and she wasn’t going to stop until she found her coin. A first sweep around the room proved futile, as did the second.

“I’ll find the coin if it takes me all day,” she murmured to herself. And she swept again. When that too failed, she realized what she needed to do. The cobblestone floor looked daunting as Cadlyn knelt. Stone after stone riddled with cracks that a coin could slip into.

Fingers over cobblestone, second after second, minute after minute, hour after hour. The sun was beginning to color the sky pink as Cadlyn’s raw, aching fingers brushed over a round shape wedged between two stones. Her heart leaped as she pulled out the coin.

Cadlyn let out a breath of relief, rejoicing that she had found the lost coin. Just like Elohim rejoices when a lost sinner is found, she mused. Thank You for Your love, my King.

The door gave a creak, and Cadlyn rose to her feet. Jarar was home. “Come celebrate, my love!” she called. “My lost coin has been found!” • Macy Walts

• This allegorical story is based on a parable Jesus told in Luke 15. Consider taking some time to read this passage slowly. How is today’s story similar to the parable? How is it different?

• Jesus searches for us, and He doesn’t ever give up. He went through the terrible pain of the cross because He loves us and wants us to be with Him forever. How does it make you feel to know that God searches for you—and rejoices over you when you receive Christ?

[Jesus said,] “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 28:6; LUKE 15:1-7; ROMANS 3:23-24; 1 PETER 2:24

We are all human and we all sin, so, until we see Jesus face to face, there will be times when we mess up.

When we stumble, slip, and fall, sometimes it seems impossible to find our way back. We let our failures keep us from going back to our forgiving, loving God, giving them far too much influence in our lives. Have you ever thought any of the following?

God could never love me after everything I’ve done.

He’ll never take me back now.

He’s probably looking down on me now thinking, “Well, he gone.”

What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I just get it right?

My friend, let me tell you some truth: you are never too far gone. There is nothing you can do to separate yourself from God’s love in Christ.

We have all sinned and will continue to sin; there is no avoiding it. But the good news is that Jesus Christ, who is God, came to live here as a human and die for our sins. When He died on the cross, He took all our sin with Him. He paid the price for our sins so we don’t have to.

Jesus loves us so much that He died for us—and He has promised that He will never leave us. Because of what He did, we find our new identity in Him, not in our sinfulness. He will go to the ends of the earth to find us and love us with all His being.

On the cross, Jesus got rid of our sin, tearing the veil that separated us from God (Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 59:2; Matthew 27:50-52). Then He rose from the grave and made the way for us to live with Him eternally.

Think about it. We can look at our sin and at that empty tomb and gladly say, “He gone.” • Heather Risher

• In times when you feel like you are too far gone, do you have any favorite Bible verses that help you remember how loved you are in Christ? God always wants us to come to Him when we feel unforgivable so He can reveal Himself to us. In addition to talking to God in prayer, who are trusted Christians in your life who can remind you of His love and forgiveness?

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 (NIV)

READ: READ: PSALM 91; JOHN 1:14; 14:1-6, 15-23; REVELATION 21:1-7

During my first Thanksgiving break in college, I spent the weekend at my roommate Jade’s house. Her mom made delicious food and drinks, including a Thanksgiving punch called “Jade’s Specialty.” Their warm welcome greeted me with love. They were the closest thing I could get to a home away from home. On Thanksgiving night, Jade handed me her phone as I was eating my garlic butter roasted turkey. The phone showed a picture we’d taken before we started our Thanksgiving feast. It was me, standing in the middle of her family.

“Look at you,” she said smiling. “You’re one of us now.” I chuckled and said nothing. My head tilted downward. Jade’s smile faded. “Do you not like the picture?”

“Of course, I do,” I replied. “The picture’s great.” But my frowning face told Jade that something was wrong. Although they treated me like their own family, I couldn’t help myself from feeling discontent. I only thought about one thing. I wish my home was closer so I could celebrate Thanksgiving with my real family.

Many college students struggle with homesickness, and they’re not the only ones. Throughout our lives, there are times when we feel lonely and lost because we’re away from home. Feeling homesick is normal, but it helps to remember that Jesus is our true home, and He is always nearby. Psalm 9:9 says, “The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” Jesus promises to be a shelter for us. John 1:14 even says He came to make His home among us. He assures us that we can always go to Him whenever we’re struggling. When our hearts are hurting because we long to be close to our earthly home, we can come to Jesus. He will comfort us in His love and remind us that He gives us the protection, comfort, and security we need. • Tatiana Handoko

• Can you think of a time you felt homesick? Jesus can empathize with us because He left His home with the Father to come and live among us, and then He went from town to town teaching and healing people. Ultimately, He died on the cross and rose from the grave so we could be eternally home with Him. When Jesus returns, everyone who’s put their trust in Him will live forever on the new heavens and new earth. Then we’ll never be homesick again. Until then, whenever we do feel homesick, we can rest knowing that Jesus is always with us, and He is our true home.

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” John 14:23 (NLT)

READ: 1 THESSALONIANS 5:15-18, 23-24; HEBREWS 13:5

For as long as I can remember, my grandma has had a little hand-stitched sign in her home that reads: “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.” As a child, I loved that sign. And as I grew into adulthood, I began to understand just how meaningful it was.

My grandparents lived out true gratitude. Their lives were not easy, and yet, in the middle of trials and times of having little, they were so thankful. Why? Because they knew that whatever happened—no matter how difficult or uncertain things were—they had it all…because they had Jesus.

They knew that no matter what, they were loved, forgiven, rescued, saved. They knew that no matter what, Jesus was there to walk beside them. They knew that no matter what, their identity in Him could never be touched. Their life with Him, both now and forever, was sure. And because they knew they belonged to Him, they could view life differently than the world. They could be thankful in all circumstances…the hard ones, the good ones, the uncertain ones, the joy-filled ones.

A thankful heart radiates a deep-rooted contentment and joy that is only found in Jesus. Once we know Him, we can view life in light of the sacrifice He made for us on the cross. He gave up His life, and then He rose from the dead, making the way for us to be with Him forever. What He’s given us is more than we could ever deserve and better than we could even imagine.

So, rather than looking at what we don’t have, we can remember that we have abundant life and unshakable hope in Jesus (John 10:10). We can give thanks in the hard things because we know that He is faithful, and He is near. And we can give thanks in the good because we see how incredibly blessed beyond measure we are, knowing every gift comes from Him (James 1:17). Because we belong to Jesus, there is always something to be thankful for. • Cara Campbell

• What are some of the hope-filled promises we have in Jesus? Do you have any favorite Scriptures that reveal these? How can remembering these promises help us thank God no matter what?

• What are some other things you are thankful for? Consider taking a moment to thank God for them!

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

READ: MATTHEW 1:22-23; ROMANS 15:4; HEBREWS 13:5-6; 2 PETER 1:3-4

Growing up, I was surrounded by God’s promises. In church, with friends, and at home, I heard people say things like “God will never leave you,” or “God has good plans for you.” I could even find these promises in the Bible, but I was still a bit skeptical. After all, God’s promises—especially in the Old Testament, like the ones mentioned above—were given to specific people in specific situations, so how could I be certain they applied to me? I had seen people take Scripture out of context or twist its meaning, and I didn’t want to make the same mistake. So when I heard God’s promises, I often felt anxious instead of comforted, wondering…did He really mean me too?

I began seeking answers, and slowly realized that, because God’s promises are all fulfilled in Christ, they are indeed still relevant to me and you. Romans 15:4 states that everything written in the past was written to teach and encourage us today, and in Hebrews 13:5-6, the author quotes two Old Testament promises to reassure the early church. Both of these passages reveal that God’s Word applies to His people now just as much as when it was first given.

The verse that finally convinced me, though, was 2 Corinthians 1:20, in which Paul tells us that all of God’s promises are “yes” in Christ. This means that not only do God’s promises extend to followers of Jesus, but they are actually fulfilled through Jesus: as Immanuel (God with us), He will never leave us; through the Holy Spirit, He gives us strength and hope; and since we belong to Him, He uses everything for our good and gives us a bright future with Him forever. Therefore, as a child of God who has put my faith in Jesus for salvation, I can know God’s promises are for me—and so can you. • Faith Lewis

• What questions do you have about God’s promises and how they apply to you? Consider taking some time to talk to God about this today. Additionally, is there a trusted Christian in your life you could talk to about your questions—such as a friend, parent, or pastor?

• Jesus completely fulfills all of the meaning and intent of the promises we find in the Old Testament. In fact, Jesus is the end goal and the point of the entire Old Testament, as well as the entire New Testament. How can this truth affect the way we read the Bible?

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)

READ: LUKE 23:43; HEBREWS 3:3-6; 11:13-16

Home, sweet home, The volatile, the vile memories Of tears, and shrieks, and all the while The place meant to be safe is anything but, And the place meant to bring warmth… Freezing, we are exiles.

Exiles battered by the pounding rain of Bruises and divorce, of foreclosures And, of course, the silence that wraps us In a home sweet homely hug.

Home, sweet home, How sweet the sound of Thy kingdom come and heavenly bound. No tears, no screams…just light beams, Reflecting off the golden streets.

This country I seek, The here but not yet here. When it comes, shining as the sun, I’ll crumple to my knees, sighing. “Home at last. Home at last.” • Hope Bolinger

• What does home mean to you?

• In Jesus, God took on flesh and bones to dwell with us and, ultimately, to be a home for us (John 1:1-3, 14; 14:23). Because He loves us so much, Jesus died and rose again so we can be with God. What will home look like for those who’ve put their trust in Jesus after He returns and raises us from the dead? (Hint: read Isaiah 11:6-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 7:9-17; 21:1-5, 21; 22:1-5)

• Jesus is making all things new, and even though the world is still broken and full of sin right now, He is still with us. He has so much compassion on us, and He provides rest and stability in the midst of our struggles. Can you think of a time you were reminded of God’s love and care for you in a difficult time? What was that like? Were there any particular ways you noticed God providing for you?

• If you or someone you know is experiencing home or family instability, who is a trusted adult you could talk to, such as a pastor, parent, teacher, coach, counselor, or youth leader?

• If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, and especially if your situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away. If you need help doing this, who is a trusted person you can reach out to?

• If you are not in immediate danger but need someone to talk to about hurts you have experienced or are currently experiencing, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.

People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. Hebrews 11:14 (NIV)