A sojourn is a relatively short period of time when a person stays somewhere other than home. It’s a temporary stay or visit that’s usually associated with a specific purpose. During a sojourn, people are outside of their natural environment. They adjust to their new place of residence to some degree, but it never becomes “home” to them.

In Hebrews 11 we see clearly how this idea of sojourning applies to people of faith. Though living in the world—for a particular purpose under the direction of God—they are always “longing for a better country—a heavenly one.” They are never completely “at home” in the world because they are born from above, fitted for something far better. That’s why “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (v. 16)

Do you long for a better place to put your roots down? Are you homesick for a place you’ve never been but you’re sure is your rightful “home”? Are you tired of battling sin, injustice, hatred, strife, and every kind of evil? Then take heart … your sojourn here won’t last forever. Paul assured us in Romans 8:18 that our “present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  God has promised that one day we’ll be liberated from our often-painful sojourn and be brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Oh, what a glorious prospect!

Here’s the rub, though. It’s hard to wait for something we’ve been anticipating for so long. As Paul put it, “we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23). Some days, it feels like our sojourn on earth is dragging on indefinitely! We’re impatient to exchange our aging, decaying bodies for new resurrected ones described in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 49: “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor [but] raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.” … Just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.” Thankfully, while we wait, we have hope in what lies ahead. For “who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:24-25).  

Our sojourn on earth isn’t all negative or difficult, of course. On earth we’re able to enjoy the blessings of adventure, discovery, family, close friends, meaningful work, and the beauty and diversity of nature. These all give us a measure of satisfaction while we wait for our true and lasting home. The challenge for Christians is to find the right balance. We don’t want to be “so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good”, as the old saying goes. But we also shouldn’t see the world and its comforts as our highest goal or ultimate identity. As John wrote, “Do not love the world or anything in the world” (1 John 2:15).

Eugene Peterson called our sojourn on earth with the Lord “A long obedience in the same direction,” a phrase he borrowed from Nietzsche. It’s an apt description of what’s required to navigate our time here with intention and perseverance. “Endurance,” Peterson writes, “is not a desperate hanging on but a traveling from strength to strength.”    

When people are spared from a potentially life-threatening injury or disease, we often hear them say something like this: “Well, I guess there’s some purpose in my being spared. God must not be done with me yet!” But why reserve this sentiment for these kinds of situations alone? As long as we have breath, we haven’t completed the time of our sojourn. We should always be asking the Lord, “What would you have me do today? How can I be of service to your kingdom in this season of my life?”

Later this month Tony (my husband) and I will be celebrating his 80^th birthday with family and friends. We’re also marking 60 years of marriage and 50 years of Christian service. Like everyone else, we’ve experienced our share of frustration, pain, anxiety, and disappointments. But since the day we wholeheartedly gave our hearts to Jesus at the age of 30, we’ve lived with a different mindset. We’ve adopted the psalmist’s view in Psalm 84. “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; they go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion” (vv. 5-7).

Daniel serves as a great example of a faithful sojourner. When he was taken captive into Babylon he kept his priorities straight. He cooperated with his captors, using his intellect and skills to bless the nation and its king. Yet his ultimate loyalty was to the Lord, not men. He continued to pray even when laws were passed against it, landing him in a den of lions. He did what was righteous, and trusted God to look after him. The impact of his life on Babylon was tremendous, and his influence among God’s people gave them hope.

The writer of Hebrews had Daniel and all the people of faith in the Old Testament in mind when he wrote to discouraged sojourners in his day. “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (12:1-2).

My Father, thank you for your faithfulness in all the seasons of my life. Fill me with your Spirit so I can finish my course on earth with joy and wholehearted trust in you. When I feel discouraged and am longing for home, remind me that “my times are in your hands.” Help me to embrace my role as a sojourner and never count the world’s system as my friend. Keep me set apart so I can fulfill all your good plans for my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.