Keep Growing Through While You’re Going Through

"Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters... 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."- Jeremiah 29:5-7 
  
When you’re in a tough season, it can feel like life is on hold. You might feel stuck, unable to move forward because of your circumstances. Maybe you’re in a place you never imagined you’d be. A place of uncertainty, pain, or frustration. But just like God told the people of Israel during their exile in Babylon, you don’t have to stop growing, even in the midst of hardship.

The people of Israel were exiled, far from their home, and likely felt defeated and hopeless. But God sent them a message through the prophet Jeremiah: “Keep growing.” Build houses, plant gardens, marry, and have children. In other words, don’t let this season of exile stop your progress. Just because you’re going through something hard doesn’t mean you have to stop living, stop building, or stop hoping.
 
God is telling you the same thing today. You may feel like you're in a “meantime” season, stuck between your current struggle and the breakthrough you’re praying for. But this is not a time to give up. This is a time to keep growing structurally, generationally, and spiritually.

First, grow structurally. Just as the Israelites were instructed to build homes and plant gardens, keep investing in your future. Don’t let your difficult situation stop you from making progress. Keep building your dreams, your relationships, and your goals. Don’t let a tough season make you think that life is over. There is still hope, and you can still grow, even here.
 
Second, grow generationally. God told them to have children and expand their families. This was important because it symbolized leaving a legacy. Even in exile, they were to think about the next generation and continue to build for the future. Don’t let hardship make you feel like you have no legacy to leave. Every day, you are sowing seeds that can bless others, whether through your kindness, your prayers, or your resilience.

Finally, grow spiritually. This might be the hardest part, but it’s also the most important. God told the Israelites to pray for the welfare of their enemies. That’s tough. It’s hard to pray for the very people who’ve caused you pain. But spiritual growth often comes in the most uncomfortable places. God is calling you to keep praying, even in unfamiliar or difficult circumstances. He’s calling you to grow closer to Him, even when life feels unfair.
 
So, no matter what you’re going through, remember you can still grow through it. Keep building, keep leaving a legacy, and keep praying. This season won’t last forever, but what you do during this time will shape the future God has for you.