A few years back, I wrote a series of 40 posts called: Out of Exile- a 40 day journey from setback to comeback, based on my two books, Out of Exile and Return From Exile. I took a look at the losses that we all face, how the losses create a feeling of "exile," and then how to return from that exile. The subtitle to Return From Exile says it well… overcoming loss, failure, and personal setbacks.

I’ve updated all 40 posts and now I’m reposting some of the series during this time of Lent. Lent began last Wednesday (Ash Wednesday). It’s a perfect time of year to reflect on loss and setbacks. You can search my blog to find all 40 posts by putting words like, “loss,” “grief,” “setback,” in the search bar below.

What is Exile?

Exile is when life throws you a curve and you end up in a place you never thought possible. You feel stuck and fear that you will never get back on track: a washout for God and a failure in life.

When some people come to faith in God, they think that their problems are over. In fact, for some, that’s why they mistakenly came to faith, like buying an insurance policy against tragedy and hardship. But then they often end up on the “back side of the desert”, that is, a place of loss and suffering, and feel cheated.

How could this happen?

Why would God do this to me?

I thought he was for me, not against me?

Exile Is A Rite of Passage

In this series and in my books, I show how exile isn't the worst place to be. In many ways, exile is a rite of passage, a place where God refines us and develops our character so we can become the person he created us to be.

You might think… “I’m not interested in character development, especially at a cost to me!” But as the Bible says, God teaches his children and it often comes through suffering. His goal is to make us more like him.

Don’t Get Stuck in Exile

I wrote my books on exile to help people find a way out (Out of Exile is for ministers, Return from Exile is for everyone else). It’s so easy to wander in exile for years when exile is only meant for a season. But with the right steps, you can get your life back even better than it was before exile happened. My hope is to guide the way.

The posts are brief. Enough for something to chew on. But not so long that you will be tempted to "read it later" which means, you never will.

I'm hoping you will share these posts with friends who might be going through a hard time. The best part of these posts are the conversations they spark...the permission they will give to talk about your exile with others. They will give you new terms to help label experiences and feelings you've had but never knew how to talk about.

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