When life feels unstable, the instinct is often to flee—but God sometimes calls us to remain. Like the remnant in Jeremiah’s time, staying put in difficulty may be the very place where God plans to build, plant, bless, and deliver.

“God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land.” And sometimes he chooses a longer route for us, too.

Moses chronicled each stop and start on the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. Likewise, we do well to mark where we began and where we’re going.