Rooted in Purpose: Thriving Where God Places Us

Devotional

Day 1: God Has Placed You Where You Are for a Purpose

Even when circumstances feel random or out of your control, God is sovereignly at work, placing you exactly where you are for reasons that may be bigger than you can see. What may look like chaos or coincidence is actually part of a greater story God is writing, both for you and for those around you. Instead of blaming circumstances or wishing for different surroundings, trust that your current placement—your neighborhood, your job, your relationships—is an assignment from God. He is inviting you to see your life through the lens of His providence, not just as a series of random events. When you embrace this, you can begin to look for ways to be faithful right where you are, knowing that God is using even the unexpected pivots in your life for His purposes. [39:30]

Jeremiah 29:4 (ESV)
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:”

Reflection: Where in your life have you been tempted to see your current situation as a coincidence or mistake, and how might you begin to view it as God’s assignment for you today?

Day 2: Invest Where You Are—Don’t Wait for “Someday”

God calls His people not to put their lives on hold while waiting for better circumstances, but to plant roots and invest deeply in the place and season they are in right now. The temptation is to wait for the “right” job, home, or community before truly engaging, but God’s instruction is to build, plant, and multiply even in the midst of uncertainty or exile. This means rolling up your sleeves, forming relationships, and making a difference where you are, rather than deferring action until life feels more settled. The fruit of faithfulness comes from investing in the present, not from waiting for the perfect future. [42:32]

Jeremiah 29:5-6 (ESV)
“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 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.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can invest in your current community or relationships this week, instead of waiting for a “better” time or place?

Day 3: Seek the Good of Those Around You—Even When It’s Hard

God’s people are called not just to survive in difficult places, but to actively seek the welfare of their city and even pray for those they might consider enemies. This radical call means moving beyond self-preservation or tribalism and instead working and praying for the flourishing of your community, workplace, or even those with whom you disagree. When you seek the good of others, especially those who are different or difficult, you reflect God’s heart and open yourself to unexpected blessings. [51:24]

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: Who is one person or group you find difficult to love or pray for, and how can you intentionally seek their good or pray for them this week?

Day 4: Deep Roots Lead to Greater Fruit

The best fruit in life comes from staying, investing, and growing deep roots rather than constantly seeking the next upgrade or escape. In a culture that values mobility and quick success, God invites you to slow down, plant yourself, and allow time for growth and transformation. When you choose to stay and invest, you not only experience personal growth but also become a blessing to those around you. Faith is living and acting like God is still writing the story, even when you can’t see the outcome yet. [58:35]

Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to stop uprooting and instead commit to growing deeper roots, trusting God for long-term fruit?

Day 5: Move from Spectator to Participant in God’s Mission

God does not call His people to be passive observers but active participants in His work—there are no spectators in the life of faith. Whether in your church, neighborhood, or workplace, you are invited to roll up your sleeves and join in the “family business” of bringing hope, serving others, and embodying God’s presence. This means moving beyond critique or consumption and saying “yes” to the opportunities God places before you, no matter how small they may seem. Your participation matters, and through it, God brings blessing to you and those around you. [53:42]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Reflection: What is one specific way you can move from being a spectator to an active participant in your church or community this week?

Sermon Summary

In a world that constantly urges us to move on to the next thing—whether it’s a new job, a new neighborhood, or a new phone—it’s easy to drift through life without ever truly being present. Yet, God calls us to something deeper: to invest where we are, to plant roots, and to trust that He is at work even in places and seasons we never would have chosen for ourselves. Drawing from Jeremiah 29, the story of Israel’s exile in Babylon, we see that God’s people were instructed not to simply wait for better days, but to build, plant, and seek the welfare of the city where they found themselves—even when that city was the heart of their pain and loss.

This call is radically countercultural, especially in a place like Silicon Valley, where the “good life” is measured by upgrades, promotions, and the next big thing. But God’s invitation is to resist the urge to live in a holding pattern, always waiting for life to begin somewhere else. Instead, He asks us to see our current circumstances—not as accidents or coincidences, but as assignments. The people we encounter, the neighborhoods we live in, the workplaces we inhabit—none of these are random. God has placed us here, now, for a purpose.

Moreover, God’s call is not just to survive, but to thrive and to bless the places we inhabit. We are not spectators in the story He is writing; we are participants, called to seek the peace and prosperity of our communities, even when those communities feel foreign or uncomfortable. This means engaging, serving, and praying for those around us—including those we might consider enemies or opponents. It’s a call to thoughtful witness, to invest deeply, and to trust that God is still writing a story of hope, even when the timeline or the outcome is not what we would have chosen.

Ultimately, faith is about living and acting as if God is still at work, even when we can’t see the end of the story. It’s about planting gardens and building homes in the midst of exile, believing that God’s presence is with us wherever we are, and that the best fruit comes from the deepest roots.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Placement Is Purposeful, Not Accidental Every circumstance, relationship, and location in our lives is part of God’s providence, not mere coincidence. Even when we feel displaced or out of place, God is writing a bigger story, using what looks like chaos or failure as an assignment for our growth and His purposes. Our neighborhoods, jobs, and even our challenges are opportunities to trust that God has settled us for a reason. [39:30]
2. Refuse the Temptation to Live in a Holding Pattern It’s easy to defer engagement, waiting for the “right” circumstances before we invest in relationships or community. But God’s instruction is to build, plant, and multiply right where we are, even if it’s not where we hoped to be. The act of planting roots—relationally, spiritually, and practically—is an act of faith that God can bring fruit in any season, not just the ideal ones. [45:05]
3. The Illusion of Arrival Distracts from Present Faithfulness Our culture teaches us that happiness and fulfillment are always just one upgrade away, but God calls us to stop chasing the dream version of our lives and to invest in the present. The real act of faith is not in pursuing the next best thing, but in blessing the people and places we’re with right now. Sometimes, God’s greatest work in us is not about changing our circumstances, but about uprooting our idols and deepening our trust in Him. [48:30]
4. There Are No Spectators in God’s Mission Faith is not a spectator sport. We are called to move from passive observation to active participation—seeking the welfare of our city, serving our neighbors, and praying even for those we struggle to love. God’s people are meant to be a blessing wherever they are, embodying His presence and hope in tangible ways, even in places of pain or opposition. [52:49]
5. Deep Roots and High Responsibility Mark a Thoughtful Witness The combination of staying power and a willingness to take responsibility for the good of others is what sets apart a thoughtful witness. Rather than wandering, wishing, or wiggling out of commitment, we are called to be witnesses—people who dig deep roots and invest in the flourishing of our communities, trusting that God’s story is still unfolding through our faithfulness. [57:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Introduction: The Art of Showing Up
[03:45] - Navigating Political Tensions with Jesus at the Center
[07:30] - Context for Jeremiah 29: Exile and Hope
[12:15] - The Temptation to Drift and the Call to Presence
[15:40] - Understanding Jeremiah 29:11 in Context
[19:20] - Principle 1: There Are No Coincidences
[23:00] - Principle 2: There Are No Holding Patterns
[27:10] - Planting Roots in a Transient Culture
[31:00] - The Illusion of Arrival and the American Dream
[34:00] - Principle 3: There Are No Spectators
[37:00] - Seeking the Welfare of the City
[41:00] - Four Types of Rootedness: Wanderers, Wishers, Wigglers, Witnesses
[45:00] - Embracing Your Assignment and Next Steps
[58:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Jeremiah 29:4-7, 11 (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.
>
> 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.

Observation Questions

According to Jeremiah 29, what specific instructions does God give to the exiles living in Babylon?
In verse 7, what does God say about the relationship between the welfare of the city and the welfare of His people?
The sermon mentions that God says, “whom I have sent into exile.” What does this reveal about who is ultimately in control of the exiles’ situation? [39:30]
What is the difference between being a spectator and a participant in God’s mission, as described in the sermon? [52:49]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God tells the exiles to build, plant, and multiply in a place that was the source of their pain and loss? What might this say about God’s purposes in difficult seasons? [42:32]
The sermon says, “What felt like displacement was actually assignment.” How does this perspective change the way someone might view their current circumstances? [39:30]
The call to “seek the welfare of the city” included praying for Babylon, even though it was the enemy. What does this teach about the kind of witness God wants His people to be? [51:24]
The sermon describes four types of rootedness: wanderers, wishers, wigglers, and witnesses. What are the dangers of being a wanderer, wisher, or wiggler instead of a witness? [57:25]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to see our current circumstances as an assignment from God, not an accident. Is there a part of your life right now—work, neighborhood, family—that you’ve been treating as temporary or unimportant? What would it look like to see it as God’s assignment for you? [39:30]
Are there ways you’ve been living in a “holding pattern,” waiting for life to get better before you invest in relationships or community? What is one step you could take this week to “plant roots” where you are? [45:05]
The idea of “the illusion of arrival” says that we’re always chasing the next upgrade or promotion. In what area of your life are you most tempted to believe that happiness is just one step away? How can you practice contentment and faithfulness in the present? [48:30]
God calls His people to seek the welfare of the city—even to pray for those they might consider enemies. Is there someone in your life, workplace, or community that you struggle to love or pray for? What would it look like to pray for their good this week? [52:49]
The sermon describes “witnesses” as people with deep roots and high responsibility. In your current context, what is one practical way you can take responsibility for the good of others—at work, in your neighborhood, or at church? [57:25]
The pastor shared about taking out his AirPods in public to be more open to connecting with people. Is there a small habit or change you could make to be more present and available to those around you? [54:53]
When you think about your own life, which of the four types—wanderer, wisher, wiggler, or witness—do you most identify with right now? What is one step you can take to move toward being a “witness” in your community? [57:25]

Sermon Clips

The gift of place is central to the work of God in and through our lives, especially in a transient culture where we're all moving so quickly. The thing is, when we stay, we discover things that we wouldn't have found out otherwise.There's like a place where deeper roots give greater fruit. [00:36:53] (17 seconds) #RootedInPlace

What felt like displacement was actually assignment.He was writing a bigger story for the people of Israel, and he's writing a bigger story for you and me. What looked like chaos from the outside was actually purpose from the inside. And isn't that true for our time as well? As difficult as the week we have just lived through is, and I got news for us, the next week's probably not gonna be incredible. God is working together to create a plan so that more people might know and come to grow in him. We do not have to fear when we live in connection to him. [00:39:30] (34 seconds) #DisplacementIsAssignment

The instinct in exile is to wait it out, to press pause till things get better. But notice God's words through Jeremiah. He does not stay, sit tight, I'll bring you home soon. He says, build, plant, marry, multiply. Do not decrease. He's saying, don't waste the assignment.This is the opposite of what they would have considered wisdom for the moment. Exile was not a waiting room. It was an assignment. Israel was not supposed to circle in the air until God cleared them for landing. They were supposed to roll up their sleeves and live in light of their promise.It's so counter to how we often think, isn't it? [00:44:26] (42 seconds) #UprootIdolsStayFaithful

Think about planting a garden.No one plants a garden today and expects to bear a harvest tonight.You till the soil, you put in the work, you water it, and you wait for it to grow. You only experience the blessing of fruit because you were faithful to plant.And God tells his people, even in Babylon, even in exile, get your hands dirty.Build homes, plant gardens, multiply your families, invest where you are.For Israel, this was more than survival. This was formational. This isn't just what God wanted them to do. It's what he wanted them to become. [00:45:39] (40 seconds) #NoSpectatorsOnlyParticipants

Living as faithful men and women in the exile was also about what God wanted to do in them.They were learning that God's presence was not tied to a place, to a temple, to a city, that God's presence was actually in his people. The call was not to escape Babylon to Idaho or Texas, but to live faithfully in Babylon until God called them to their promised and permanent home. And the same is true for us. [00:46:18] (28 seconds) #PrayForYourEnemies

But if God's calling is not really about upgrading your circumstances, what if it's about uprooting your idols?What if it's about finding those identity -competing values that we've let seek into our life, and we're giving God everything, letting him into all of it, and there's something better than just better stuff? [00:48:30] (19 seconds) #FaithfulInTheMess

It says, pray for that city. Because if it prospers, you prosper.That command would have sounded outrageous. Babylon was the enemy.Babylon was the place of their deepest pain.And yet, God was saying, you do not get to sit on the sidelines. You are not here to watch. You're here to plant. You're here to build. You're here to raise families. And even to pray for the peace of your captors. Think about that. I pray about them. Pray for them.What if you were to pray for the political enemy you think about right now?What if you were to pray for the person that lit you up on social media this week?What if you were to pray for the person in your family that you just can't even imagine that they think the way they think?This was not passive exile. It was an active mission. It was an assignment. [00:52:38] (55 seconds) #FaithInTheFuture

``With God, there are no accidents, no holding patterns, and no spectators, only assignments, invitations, and participation.Will you accept the call from God to show up as an exile?Not simply surviving, but thriving in the midst of people who live differently because God loves them too, even the ones that vote differently than you. [00:58:15] (20 seconds)

You don't plant gardens or build houses unless you think there's a future. That's what faith is. It's living and acting like God is still writing the story, and he is. But let's be honest. It's not always easy to believe that. Sometimes we wonder if God's really good. At the end of a week like this, you find yourself exhausted. Some people feel emboldened. Some people feel scared. Some people feel angry.And what do we do with that? [00:58:35] (24 seconds)

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