A Refuge In The Storm

A Refuge in the Storm

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Once you have the walls painted and furniture arranged, it’s easy to get so caught up in your job, grad school, or other pursuits that you neglect your home and have little left to give your family. Creating a home with a semblance of order, loveliness, warm hospitality, and cherished memories requires that you see the value of making a home in the first place. If your heart needs some warming toward this attitude, ask God for that desire. Ask him for whatever is lacking: a bigger picture of your influence, an understanding of the value of home as a refuge, or a mentor who can share practical tips and help you learn homemaking skills. The truth is, our homes are not just wallpapered, decorated, and fixed up to be pit stops where family members change clothes, grab a sandwich, and get some sleep in order to race off the next morning to the places where “real” life happens. No, home and family are meant to be places of refuge, places to be refreshed and renewed and to be understood by people who really care about us and want to share life together.

Home is also meant to be a refuge because the storms of life hit people of all ages and backgrounds—young and old, rich and poor, and everyone in between. Scripture says the rain falls on both the good and the evil people (see Matthew 5:45). There’s no insurance policy that can guard us against having an accident that turns our lives upside down, being beset by severe depression, or having a long-term illness that makes us need care. All of us need comfort, and all of us—even the youngest among us—can give comfort in some way. Following Christ’s teaching about caring for “the least of these” (see Matthew 25:40), feeding the hungry and caring for the sick begin at home and then ripple out into our communities and into the world. When we experience comfort at home, we understand and become prepared to give it to others. —CHERI

Lord, help me to make time to care for others, starting with those in my own home and family. Give me a heart of compassion and service so that I do it in your name and for your sake.

The family and home are meant to be the environment where human beings can find shelter, warmth, protection, and safety in each other.

—EDITH SCHAEFFER, AUTHOR AND SPEAKER