The nation of Israel was loved and blessed by God. Yet they continued to turn away from the Lord … whether to idols or cultural influences or just plain side tracked in life. After many warnings and encouragement to repent there came a time when the Israelites were exiled. Another country with a harsh ruler would now take them from their homeland and put them in a place that was not their own.
But God, through the prophet Jeremiah sent them a letter about how to behave in exile:
Jeremiah 29:4 - 7
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters into marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
In other words, in times of trial and discipline … keep going with God.