Jeremiah 29:4-7
“Thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, to all the captives whom I have caused to be carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. Take wives, and have sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there, and don’t be diminished. Seek the shalom of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to Yahweh for it; for in its shalom you will have shalom.”
This passage comes from a letter written by the prophet Jeremiah to the first group of Judahite exiles deported to Babylon in the early 6th century BCE. He is addressing their immediate situation, telling them how to live in a foreign land rather than expecting a quick return.
How does seeking the well-being of a place you didn't choose to be in, and might even resent, shape your own sense of belonging and purpose?