Exile.

The word alone evokes visions of despair, desolation, and loss. The dictionary gives us a definition of that substantiates those emotions.

Meanings of the word exile

But exile has additional meanings – purposes — we must consider as believers.

Shades of meaning

Exile, in its broadest connotation, can simply mean separation from things familiar. And, contrary to the dictionary definition, exile does not always result from punishment. For example, an ambassador’s family may consider themselves in exile while serving their country in a distant land. No doubt military members often feel similarly exiled as they deploy to far off locations for extended periods of time. An employee on temporary assignment from her home office may believe herself exiled to a new and different locale for a season, especially if the difference from home is drastic. Each of these scenarios represents someone who goes into exile voluntarily as a service to country or employer. But there can be other reasons people enter exile voluntarily.

Self-imposed, a.k.a. Voluntary Exile

Most people enter seasons of voluntary exile with a specific goal in mind. These purposes may incorporate a personal (i.e. physical, mental, social, emotional, or spiritual) or ministry/professional focus. Some reasons that may motivate folks to step into a period of voluntary exile include:

• Task completion
• Planning and goal-setting
• Learning a new skill
• Seeking clarification from the Lord on a particular problem or decision
• Self-reflection
• Renewal and refreshment (in personal & ministry arenas)

Taking intentional, chosen, and dedicated time for any of these causes is admirable. Sometimes, however, we plummet into an exile we didn’t see coming.

Forced, a.k.a Involuntary Exile

Periodically circumstances transpire that plunge us into exile quite unwillingly – either at the instigation of another person or organization OR within the broader design of our Father’s wisdom for our personal growth and ministry.

These circumstances come in many different areas of life:

• death of a loved one
• infidelity/divorce
• demotion or relocation to a different department at work
• moving to a new town because of work
• an act of betrayal by a loved one
• loss of job
• life-threatening or debilitating illness or hospitalization
• life-changing accident

In these cases, we don’t get to choose whether we think a temporary exile would be beneficial or not. We are helplessly pushed forward into a new and unchosen way of living.

Another thing these circumstances have in common is that they, for good or ill, almost all represent the forced departure from the familiar to the permanently altered circumstances in which we find ourselves. Like passing through a portal through which there is no return – no going back to the way things were before.

My Personal Exile Seasons

I’ve experienced a number of “exile” seasons. Through each of these, the Lord performed specific work in my life which was necessary for my growth as a believer and as one who desires to live in a way that honors Him and brings His blessings into the lives of those around me. The most significant of these exile seasons were when my parents divorced, when I was let go from my administrative assistant job, when I lost my unborn son, when my former husband was stationed to the California desert, when my younger brother died, and, most recently, when my divorce after nearly 33 years of marriage was finalized.

These seasons of exile emerged from varying circumstances, but they all produced God’s will in my life. I’ll address each of these seasons and their lessons in subsequent articles.

How about you?

Can you look back and identify times in your life when the Lord has walked with you in exile? What circumstances sent you into exile? What did the Lord teach you in each of your personal seasons of exile? Look for Excel? In Exile? Part II to be published here soon!