"Good Things in a Bad Place"

Listen to the full March 13 sermon here.

DEVOTIONAL

Jeremiah 24:6–7 NRSVUE

“I will set my eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord.”

Opening Reflection

We live in a world that often feels upside down. Sometimes it seems like everything is against us—jobs feel impossible, finances are tight, relationships are hard, and uncertainty looms over every decision. Life has a way of putting us in places we would never choose for ourselves. And in those moments, it’s easy to feel abandoned, forgotten, or overwhelmed.

But here’s the good news: God specializes in giving us good things in bad places. Just like He showed Jeremiah, God’s presence and promises are not canceled by our circumstances. The “bad place” doesn’t define us, God’s hand does.

But the story of Jeremiah and the exiles reminds us that God has a different perspective. Even in the midst of Babylonian exile—a time when God’s people were ripped from their homes, stripped of comfort, and surrounded by uncertainty—God still saw them. He still had a plan. What looked like punishment was actually preservation. What felt like exile was preparation.

Sometimes God allows us to walk through hard seasons not to harm us, but to build us. He plants seeds in us through trials, waters our growth through difficulty, and prunes away what holds us back so that we may flourish. Just like the good figs in Jeremiah’s vision, we may be in a “bad place,” but God is at work, shaping, protecting, and preparing us for a future we cannot yet see.

Devotional Thought

Life often places us in “bad places”—seasons of pain, loss, or confusion. These places bring us to a level of despondency that clouds our vision, preventing us from seeing the “good” God has left us with. In the text, The people of Judah found themselves in exile (which God allowed), far from home, stripped of comfort, and surrounded by uncertainty. Yet even there, God spoke through his prophet Jeremiah: I will set my eyes upon you for good.

This is the hope of the believer: God can bring good things out of the worst situations. Exile wasn’t the end—it was the beginning of renewal for his people. What looked like punishment was really God’s protection, preservation, and preparation.

Your “bad place” may be a difficult job, a broken relationship, a health battle, or even a season of waiting. But just like Judah, you are not abandoned. God is building you, planting you, and shaping your heart to know Him more deeply.

This isn’t just theological theory; it’s practical encouragement. If you are in a challenging season today—whether it’s work stress, financial pressure, loss, or emotional pain—remember that God sees you. He hasn’t forgotten you. He is working in ways you cannot yet understand, creating good things out of your struggles.

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life do you feel like you’re in a “bad place” right now?

2. How might God be using that season to build you up rather than tear you down?

3. What promise from God’s Word can you hold onto this week to remind you of His faithfulness?

Prayer

Lord, thank You that even in hard and uncomfortable places, You are still at work. Help me to see Your hand in my situation, trust Your purpose, and rest in Your faithfulness. Remind me daily that I am still in Your hands, and You are still building me up. In Jesus’ name, Amen.