The Challenge of Confinement

Pastor Steve Christian – Toowoomba North Church of Christ

Imagine being a chaplain to Christians who find themselves in prison. Maybe they were guilty of a crime; maybe not. Maybe they’ve become a Christian since being incarcerated. In a place where everybody would want to leave, the challenge would be to encourage them and find purpose during their confinement.

Some people today – during Covid – have chosen the path of confinement. The challenge for them too, is to find meaning and purpose.

After the people of Judah were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar and deported to Babylon due to their disobedience to God, the prophet Jeremiah sent them this message from the Lord:

“Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands . . . that you may increase there, and not diminish” (Jer. 29:5-6).

As we face some limiting circumstance today, we may choose to “go through it” (reluctantly and begrudgingly) or we can seek God’s strength to “grow through it”.

The challenge of every confinement is to increase rather than decrease; to grow and not diminish. The Lord’s goal is to give us “a future and a hope” (v.11).