Been in a bad place for a long time?

Scriptural reference: 
“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 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.” This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”" Jeremiah 29:4, 7, 10-14 (NIV)

Application:

• Drought. It's not just bad weather, it's a long stretch of it.
• Depression. It's not just a sad day, it's like an eternity of emptiness.
• Detention. It's not just a "time out" session, it's a long, tortured season of imprisoned misery.
• Disease. It's not just illness, it's a burden that puts you to sleep, wakes you up, and darkens your day with agony all the time.

It won't always get better; not fast enough for us. There won't always be a cure; not effective enough for us. We may have to live with this awful "new normal" for generations. That's a long time. For these times, God has a Word for us, and it may be surprising:

Settle in.

Pray in the situation as you go through the situation. You may be depressed, jailed, poor, distressed, lonely, sick, or exploited for a long while. Pray that God will help those who are over you so that your situation will get better. Right now, prepare yourself with all the essentials so that you can endure for an indefinite stretch of time. But always be hopeful. Be reminded that God has plans for you. You don't know them yet, but He does, and His plans are good. You'll see.

Prayer:
Dear Father, we have faith in Your plans, not ours. We pray for deliverance from our problems as soon as You can, but if that is not Your will, we pray that You will provide us with serenity and comfort in these difficult times. Amen.