Finding Hope and Purpose in Exile

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Presence and Promises in Exile

Even when life feels like exile—when relationships, work, or circumstances seem broken and hope feels distant—God’s presence remains steadfast. He promises to watch over you, draw you close, and be your God, even in the hardest places. The sense of being on the “wrong side of the door,” longing for something better, is not foreign to God’s people; yet, He assures you that you are still under His care and that His covenant with you does not change, no matter how far from “home” you feel. In the midst of confusion, pain, or loss, you can rest in the comfort that God is with you, holding you, and working for your good. [25:50]

Jeremiah 29:10-14 (ESV)
“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. 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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 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.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel most like you’re in exile, and how might you invite God’s presence and promises into that very place today?

Day 2: God Has a Purpose for You in Difficult Places

God not only permits seasons of exile or hardship, but He also gives you a purpose within them. Even when you feel displaced, uncertain, or overwhelmed, God calls you to seek the peace and prosperity of the place where you are, to pray for it, and to trust that your flourishing is tied to the flourishing of those around you. Your current struggle, whether in your family, work, or community, is not wasted; God is at work, inviting you to participate in His redemptive plan right where you are. [35:43]

Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV)
“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can seek the peace and prosperity of your “city”—your workplace, family, or neighborhood—this week, even if it feels like a place of exile?

Day 3: God Redeems What Feels Broken

Even in the most painful or traumatic moments, God is able to bring about redemption and new life. What feels like loss or defeat can become the very place where God’s goodness is revealed, as He transforms pain into purpose and brokenness into blessing. The intersection where tragedy struck can become a place of safety and hope for many, and your own wounds can become sources of healing for others. God’s promise is not just to preserve you, but to redeem your story for His glory and the good of your community. [18:30]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Reflection: Can you identify a place of pain or loss in your life where you might begin to pray for God’s redemption and look for ways He could use it to bless others?

Day 4: God Provides in Unexpected Ways

When you face overwhelming needs or challenges, God is able to provide in ways that surpass your understanding. Just as He fed the five thousand with a few loaves and fish, He can meet your needs—financial, emotional, or spiritual—often in ways that surprise and encourage you. Trusting God’s provision means releasing anxiety and opening your heart to the creative, sometimes miraculous, ways He cares for His children. [34:50]

Matthew 14:17-21 (ESV)
They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Reflection: What is one area of need or anxiety you can bring honestly to God today, trusting Him to provide in His way and timing?

Day 5: Prayer Reclaims Hope and Renews Strength

When discouragement and exhaustion threaten to overwhelm you, gathering with others in prayer can reclaim hope and renew your strength. Standing together—sometimes even on the very ground where pain has occurred—invites God’s presence and power to transform hearts and communities. Prayer is not just a private act but a communal reclaiming of territory for Jesus, a way to hear again that God is your God, that He draws you close, and that He will redeem what feels lost. [44:04]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: Who can you invite to pray with you this week—especially over a place or situation that feels hopeless—so that together you might reclaim hope and strength in Jesus’ name?

Sermon Summary

The Jackson neighborhood in Fresno, California, is a small, overlooked community of 923 homes, but it is a place where God is at work in powerful and surprising ways. Living and serving there has meant embracing the full weight of its challenges—crime, poverty, trauma, and the sense of being on the “wrong side of the door,” as C.S. Lewis puts it. There are moments when the darkness feels overwhelming, when tragedy strikes close to home, and when the enemy’s voice whispers that all the effort is meaningless. Yet, even in the midst of this exile, God’s presence and purpose remain steadfast.

Exile is not just a historical reality for the people of Israel; it is a lived experience for many today. Whether it’s a broken relationship, a difficult job, an addiction, or simply feeling out of place in a culture that worships different gods—success, productivity, home ownership—exile is the ache of knowing things are not as they should be. But God does not abandon His people in exile. Instead, He promises to watch over us, to draw us close, and to be our God, even when we feel most displaced.

Personal stories from the Jackson neighborhood—like the tragic accident at a dangerous intersection, or the transformation of a neighbor named Marshall—show that God’s purposes are often worked out in the very places of our deepest pain and confusion. The intersection that nearly took a child’s life became the catalyst for change and safety for the whole community. The sense of being sent into exile, away from comfort and familiarity, became the context for new relationships, new faith, and new hope.

God’s word through Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon is a word for us: “I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Exile is permitted, but it is not purposeless. In the places where we feel most lost, God is still at work, redeeming, restoring, and calling us to seek the peace and prosperity of the places where He has sent us. Even when we are tempted to quit, prayer and community can renew our strength and remind us that God’s promises are true. He will not let exile ruin us; He will use it to redeem us.

Key Takeaways

1. Exile is a spiritual reality, not just a historical event. Whether it’s a broken relationship, a hostile work environment, or a culture that feels foreign to our faith, exile is the sense of being on the “wrong side of the door”—longing for what should be, but living in what is. In these moments, we are invited to recognize our longing for home as a signpost pointing us to God’s ultimate restoration. [06:58]
2. God’s presence is most profound in the places of our deepest pain. When tragedy strikes or when the weight of our calling feels unbearable, God does not abandon us. Instead, He draws near, offering comfort, hope, and the assurance that we are still under His care, even when we cannot see the way forward. [24:25]
3. Exile is permitted by God, but it is not purposeless. The very places and situations that feel most like exile are often the soil in which God’s purposes take root. He calls us to seek the peace and prosperity of the places where He has sent us, promising that in their flourishing, we will find our own. [35:43]
4. God’s promises in exile are deeply personal: “I will watch over you. I will draw you close. I will be your God.” These are not abstract theological ideas, but lived realities for those who trust Him in the midst of uncertainty. Even when the world feels hostile or indifferent, God’s covenant love remains unbroken. [25:50]
5. Prayer and community are essential for resilience in exile. When discouragement and despair threaten to overwhelm, gathering with others to pray—especially in the very places marked by pain—can renew faith, restore vision, and rekindle hope. God meets us in these moments, giving us strength for the journey ahead. [43:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Introducing the Jackson Neighborhood
[02:53] - Facing Tragedy and the Weight of Exile
[04:35] - Wrestling with Discouragement and Doubt
[06:20] - The Feeling of Exile in Everyday Life
[06:58] - C.S. Lewis and the Ache for Home
[09:33] - Graffiti, Spiritual Warfare, and Babylon
[11:58] - God’s Plan in Exile
[15:46] - Personal Story: Noah’s Accident and Community Change
[18:30] - God’s Purpose in Our Pain
[19:28] - Comfort in God’s Presence
[24:25] - God’s Promises to the Exiles
[33:19] - The Cost and Call of Mission
[35:43] - Seeking the Peace of the City
[38:42] - God’s Assurance: You Will Not Be Ruined
[42:12] - Renewed Strength Through Prayer
[44:54] - Strength for the Journey Ahead

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Jeremiah 29:4-14 (ESV) —
> 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.
>
> 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.”

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## Observation Questions

1. According to Jeremiah 29, what specific instructions does God give to the exiles about how they should live in Babylon?
2. In the sermon, what are some of the “gods” that people in our culture worship, and how do these relate to the feeling of exile? [[10:42]]
3. What are the three promises God makes to his people in exile, as highlighted in the sermon? [[24:56]]
4. What happened at the dangerous intersection in the Jackson neighborhood, and how did that event lead to change? [[15:46]]

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## Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God tells the exiles to “seek the welfare of the city” where they have been sent, instead of just waiting to go home? How might this change the way we view our own “exile” situations? [[35:43]]
2. The sermon describes exile as “the ache of knowing things are not as they should be.” How does this feeling show up in everyday life, and what does it reveal about our longing for God’s restoration? [[06:58]]
3. The speaker shares that God’s presence is most profound in places of deep pain. Why might God choose to meet us most powerfully in those moments? [[24:25]]
4. How does prayer and community help renew strength and hope when we feel discouraged or tempted to give up? [[43:09]]

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## Application Questions

1. The sermon talks about feeling like you’re on the “wrong side of the door”—longing for what should be, but living in what is. Where in your life do you feel this sense of exile right now? How does it affect your faith or hope? [[06:58]]
2. The Jackson neighborhood story shows that God can use tragedy to bring about good for a whole community. Can you think of a painful or confusing situation in your life where you’ve seen God bring about some kind of change or growth? What was that like? [[18:30]]
3. God’s promises in exile are: “I will watch over you. I will draw you close. I will be your God.” Which of these promises do you need to hear most right now, and why? [[25:50]]
4. The sermon says that God permits exile, but it is not purposeless. Is there a place or situation in your life that feels like exile? What might it look like to “seek the peace and prosperity” of that place or relationship? [[35:43]]
5. When the speaker was discouraged and ready to quit, it was prayer and community that renewed his strength. Who are the people you can pray with when you feel overwhelmed? Is there a place of pain in your life where you need to invite others to pray with you? [[43:09]]
6. The culture around us often worships success, productivity, or home ownership. Are there any “gods” like these that you find yourself tempted to chase? How does this affect your sense of belonging or identity? [[10:42]]
7. The sermon ends with the idea that God will not let exile ruin us, but will use it to redeem us. What would it look like for you to trust God with your “exile” this week? Is there a step of faith or obedience you feel prompted to take? [[38:42]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion: — Invite the group to pray for one another, especially for those who feel like they are in a season of exile. Ask God to make his presence and promises real, and to give strength for the journey ahead.

Sermon Clips

``So the good figs are these exiles and God's like I've sent you as exiles to this strange land, but they're still under his care. What's that mean for you in the marriage that you're in? What's that mean for you in the career that you're in? What's that mean for you for the addiction that you find yourself returning to? It means that there's still comfort in his presence. You're still under his care. [00:24:39] (26 seconds) #ExilesUnderGodsCare

And so maybe there's like three comforting promises. And maybe I'll just say this to any one of us who feel like there's a part of our life that feels like exile. Here's the first promise. I'll watch over you. Yeah, that's good. I'll watch over you. He goes, my eyes are on them for good. The second promise. I will draw you close. That's good. I will draw you close in this. He goes, I will give them a heart to know me. That's a good promise. The third is, I will be your God. He says, they shall be my people and I will be their God. So this exile doesn't quit his covenant. Nothing's changing from him to you. Nothing's changing with his commitment to hold you in this. That's good. [00:25:05] (53 seconds) #GodsPromisesInExile

So I'll watch over you. I'll draw you close. I'll be your God. So what's that mean? It means that in the world, when you're a person who's watching your YouTube or your algorithm is feeding you fear fear because that's what the algorithm is designed to do. And you start seeing like Putin and China and like North Korea align and all of a sudden it's Canadians are like, What's God say? Oh, God says, hey, Christian, hey, Christian, I'll watch over you. I'll draw you close, Christian. I'll be your God, Christian. [00:25:58] (49 seconds) #DivineAssuranceInFear

When Canada increasingly decides that we're just this post-Christian nation, in our laws, we decide as a country that any form of religious expression is no longer in the public sphere. And now there's restrictions on public prayer and civic events, and you can't even affirm contrary positions on literally anything without making you feel like you get sidelined. What's God say? God says, hey, Christian, I'll watch over you. I'll draw you close. I will be your God. [00:26:49] (39 seconds) #FaithInPostChristianCulture

And when he says to you in Vancouver, when he says to you in the world, when he says to you, he says to you in life, he says to you in your relationships. When there's a part of your relationship that feels like exile, but there's a part of your family unit that feels like exile. Like, I'll watch over you. I'll draw you close. I'll be your God. [00:28:28] (28 seconds) #GodsPresenceInExile

So God carries us into exile. There are things in your life that he has permitted. But God also says that he has a purpose in that exile. I like what he says in verse 7 of Jeremiah 29. This is before the good part, verse 11. But in verse 7 he goes, also seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I've carried you into exile. Pray for it because in its peace you'll find your peace. It's like I've got a purpose for you here. [00:35:36] (30 seconds) #PeaceAndPurposeInExile

This marriage is not going to ruin you. This career path that you're unclear about is not going to ruin you. This child or grandchild that you're trying to figure out is not going to ruin you. This relationship is not...Not only have I permitted this, not only is there a purpose in this, I'm not even going to make this ruin you. You're the good fig. [00:38:36] (23 seconds) #HopeForTheExiled

That's really good news if you're broke and you don't know where this is going. That's really good news if you're addicted and you don't really know where this is turning out. That's really good news if you're in a relationship that feels like exile. It's like, I'm not going to ruin you in this. I'm actually going to redeem you in this. You can hear God saying, can't you? You can hear him saying, I'll watch over you. I'll draw you close. I'll be your God. [00:41:56] (30 seconds) #RenewedPassionAndFaith

A voracious passion mixed with zeal, a renewal of love for the neighborhood, and a belief, again, that God could get his way begin to emerge in all of us. And it was like we could hear again, I'll be your God. I'll draw you close. It's like we could hear it again. Don't you need to hear it again? Don't you want to hear those words from him? In that place of marriage, in that place of relationship, in that place of career, in that moment of exile, this momentary thing that is happening that feels like could be forever. Don't you want to hear God say, I've got a plan for you in this. This is not for your ruin. I'm going to bring you back from this. I'm your God. I'll draw you close. [00:43:46] (59 seconds) #StrengthForTheJourney

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