What does home convey to you? Maybe you don’t feel at home in this world. Adverse circumstances, unexpected life events and health challenges can make us feel unsettled, especially when we hit midlife and beyond and survey the landscape of our lives with a wistful, jaundiced eye.
We’re still in our first home together after 40+ years of marriage. Although we might have missed opportunities along the way or played it too safe, we haven’t moved on due to circumstances beyond our control and long seasons of both being unemployed.
As I view the cramped and cluttered place where we somehow built a home, raised our sons and fought internal battles while I sought to overcome a painful past, I feel sad not to have realised my housing hopes and dreams.
There’s an ache within. I have a yearning for a home such as I have not experienced yet. Then I remember what makes a house a home is a soul connection with the people we share life with and love, our family and friends.
We’re in a mess because we’re both living with debilitating chronic illness, coupled with owning too much stuff to easily sort and sift, and sentimentality keeping us chained to the majority of it. Maybe you can relate?
As I sat with these conflicting feelings, God drew my attention to the inescapable fact that I am rooted in Christ by faith, with all the riches of God’s goodness and grace at my disposal. I actually lack no good thing and I should be more thankful for what I already possess.
I have all I need. I am wonderfully blessed to have a home of my own, a dry roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, plenty of food to eat and money enough to keep me well supplied with clothes and books.
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” – Ephesians 2:6 NIV
We abide with Jesus in heavenly places, while rooted here to earth. We can rest our anxious hearts in God’s still waters of calm and peace anytime we want to. He gently encourages us to lie down in His green pastures of plenty and all-sufficiency whenever our souls get strained and stressed.
God graciously makes His home in human hearts when we put our faith in Christ. And the eternal Home we have with Him is a place that will more than satisfy our souls with lasting contentment and joy.
This eternal Home is lavishly and freely given to all who trust in Christ. We are adopted into the family of God by faith and lack no good thing by His grace.
“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to!” – Ephesians 1:5 TLB
Although we might suffer tremendously here, we are reassured that in all things God is working for our good, including the bad stuff we’d rather not go through. Everything serves a purpose of drawing us closer to God in greater dependence, as we seek His face and His strength to sustain us.
Our final destination is to spend eternity in God’s presence, to be fully welcomed into heaven and invited to the place He has chosen for our Forever Home. Knowing these things helps take the sting out of today’s troubles and gives us lasting hope in the here and now.
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” – John 14:23 NIV
“We abide with Jesus in heavenly places, while rooted here to earth. We can rest our anxious hearts in God’s still waters of calm and peace anytime we want to.” Oh, Joy, this is so true. Now, if we could only remember it all the time. I can sure identify with you about the clutter, and when I look at it I can start to feel overwhelmed and discontent and it’s all downhill from there. But when I remember that I can rest in Jesus and remember that He is with me, my soul can be at peace even among the clutter. And then I sometimes am inspired to tackle some of it. I guess what I’m saying is that even though the clutter doesn’t get taken away as soon as I’d like it to, I can still be at peace rather than worry. Blessings to you, dear sister/poet/friend. xoxo
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Gayl, you’re right in saying that we need to remember these things. How easily we forget and let stress overwhelm us instead! Thank you for sharing how you also struggle at times with the frustrations and discontent that being overly cluttered can bring to our souls. Once again, the remedy lies in resting in Jesus rather than sinking in despair. I’m so glad you can be at peace while living with less than sorted surroundings. Our heart attitude really does affect how we react, doesn’t it? Bless you for leaving such an encouraging and understanding comment. I appreciate you, dear sister/poet/friend! xoxo 💜
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This is a good reminder for me today, Joy. Chronic illness and getting sick a lot can be hard, but it’s good to be reminded that “I am rooted in Christ by faith, with all the riches of God’s goodness and grace at my disposal.” Thank you. I do long for our Forever Home! Love and hugs to you!
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Yes, weakness and illness do require us to depend a lot on God’s strength and enabling each day, which is no bad thing. I need that reminder too, Trudy, because it’s all too easy to forget the fact we are rooted in Christ and have full access to God’s goodness and grace! Love and hugs to you too, dear friend! xo ❤
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Thank you, Joy. Chronic illness and getting sick a lot can be so hard. It is such a great reminder that “I am rooted in Christ by faith, with all the riches of God’s goodness and grace at my disposal.” I do long for our Forever Home! Love and hugs to you!
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Hi Trudy, I am answering this similar comment to let you know that both messages did in fact come through as they should have done. Sorry for the hold up. Things must have just slowed down for some reason this end. These little hiccups are a puzzle sometimes. I think they also serve to make us long for our Forever Home as a place of soul rest and peace, as well as being the most Holy sanctum which God inhabits and where He is continually worshipped and praised. Blessings, love and hugs and apologies for the website/internet gremlins disrupting things for you! xo 🙂
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Thank you, Joy, for letting me know. These computers can sometimes be a bit temperamental, can’t they? 🙂 ❤️ 🌼
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They sure can, Trudy! Our internet has been a bit iffy today so that doesn’t help either. But I’m so glad you persevered in trying to leave a comment! xo 💻📜😉🌸💜
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Dear Joy,
Oh, such beautiful words for this place where my husband and I are dwelling right now:
“We abide with Jesus in heavenly places, while rooted here to earth. We can rest our anxious hearts in God’s still waters of calm and peace anytime we want to. He gently encourages us to lie down in His green pastures of plenty and all-sufficiency whenever our souls get strained and stressed.”
He is showing us every day more about His all-sufficiency. In the midst of our own stress about how we will continue to manage here, He truly does call us into His rest. Thank you for sharing these precious thoughts my friend! Love & Hugs & Blessings! xoxo
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Dear Bettie, you and your beloved husband have very much been in my thoughts and prayers. It’s encouraging to hear how wonderfully God is revealing His all-sufficiency to you in this place of extra dependency and need. May you experience a greater degree of rest, peace, restoration, strength and healing in the days ahead. You are always welcome to my words, especially when they are timely in their arrival! Much love, hugs and prayers, and a catch up email to follow soon, hopefully! xoxo
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Beautiful sentiments touching me deeply. Thank you dear friend for your sensitivity and honesty. Elizabeth xx
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Dear Elizabeth, thank you so much for visiting this space! I’m more used to your sweet presence at Poetry Joy, therefore it’s a special joy and delight to welcome you here as well. I’m humbly grateful to have been given words that speak deeply to your soul, my friend. Blessings and love and hugs for leaving such a lovely, encouraging comment here. xo ❤
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Such a beautiful reminder of the temporal, Joy, and the hope we have in eternity with Him. Blessings on your Mother’s Day, sweet friend!
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June, it’s that hope which keeps us going when life gets tough, isn’t it? May your Mother’s Day be happy and blessed, dear friend! xo 💜
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