Find shelter in God’s arms

Some days I long for the comfort and safety I experienced at my parents’ home. To be a child, well protected under the shelter and security that my parents offered me. I remember the house I grew up in as a safe haven. When there were challenges at school or troubles with other kids, I could just run home, into the arms of my parent. There I was allowed to share whatever burdened me. I remember the deep feeling of comfort when I think of this place of refuge. 

In many places in the Bible, God is referred to as a place of shelter He is a solid rock and a place of protection.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Psalm 71:1-3 

Whenever I read these verses, I feel a sense of comfort that I knew from my family home. The feeling of coming home, being allowed to just be, and letting go. What a gift! In this blog post, I want to expand on this aspect of God as a shelter hoping that you will find in our Heavenly Father a safe haven to run to at any time. In addition, I would like to highlight God as a parent and offer a few thoughts in reflection on my own childhood experiences. 

As I faced conflicts with other children, I found comfort, encouragement, and wisdom at home. When there was trouble at school, I could express it freely and talk about it with my parents. When exams or presentations were coming up, they had my back and practiced with me. They encouraged and affirmed me. When I went to school, I knew that my parents were thinking about me and were cheering me on. In the challenging moments of my childhood, they were a place of shelter and help for me. 

However, they didn’t spare me from difficulties. They didn’t go to school with me to write my exams because they knew I had to learn how to do that myself. Similarly, God often does not take away our obstacles but helps us to overcome them. In His presence, He equips and strengthens us. He wants us to grow and come to full maturity (James 1:2-4).

It is important that we take time to talk to God about what is going on in our lives right now. When we open up to Him, I am convinced that He meets us in our deepest desires and our difficult moments. When we welcome God into what is going on, His light can shine into our hearts and healing as well as change can happen. We experience encouragement, comfort, new hope, and the power of God. 

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 

I did not grow up in church and yet, looking back, I realize how strongly God was present in my childhood and what great love and support I experienced. I am convinced that the majority of my readers would agree that I had wonderful parents and a good childhood. 

In the Bible, God is repeatedly referred to as our Father (1 John 3:1 / Philippians 4:20 / John 1:12 / Romans 8:15 etc.). And He is far better than earthly parents could ever be. As a child, I did not always agree with my parents’ opinions:

“Why can’t I eat a bar of chocolate every day?” 

“Why don’t you give me a horse? I want one!”  

“The other children get to watch a lot more TV. That’s sooo unfair!” 

“I don’t want to go to school today.” 

A child does not understand the bigger picture. I didn’t realize that too much chocolate would harm my health. My parents didn’t buy me everything I wanted, but taught me to wait and that we need to set healthy boundaries in today’s consumer society. If my parents had answered my years of begging for a horse of my own, I would have had to give it away a short time later due to changing interests and circumstances. How grateful I am today that they had said “no” more often than not!

So much in our lives as children of God, we cannot comprehend. Too much we do not understand. With this illustration of my childhood home, I want to show that God wants to be your shelter. At the same time, He is a Father who has the broad vision that you lack. A child simply cannot see the connections that adults see. And I believe that it is similar with God. 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Jesaja 55:8-9

In his loving arms, you will find comfort. You are allowed to be completely honest. Your anger, sadness, doubts, and accusations have a place in God’s presence. I want you to know that God loves you. If he closes a door or doesn’t open it at all, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have good intentions for you. He is the creator of everything. He is endless and stands outside of space and time. God has the broad perspective that we lack. Find peace in the knowledge that He loves you and can make something good come out of anything bad that happens in your life (Romans 8:28).

Read more:

About waiting and being content

Find joy in difficulties

Pride meets humility

The day I encountered God

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