Re posting a sermon from March 2020
Finding Refuge: What Drawing Houses Taught Me About Sheltering in God
Since I was young, my favorite thing to draw has always been a house or a shelter. Looking back, that simple creative urge was deeply tied to a lifelong journey of understanding what it means to be protected.
From my early experiences serving as a youth pastor during events like Box City to navigating “shelter in place” orders during COVID, the concept of shelter has always come down to one fundamental principle: to protect or shield from something harmful.
The Ultimate Secret Place
Psalm 91:1 offers a profound look at spiritual sanctuary:
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
The Talmud refers to Psalm 91 as a “song of plagues,” written for times when invisible or external dangers loom large. When we break down the original Hebrew text, two key insights emerge:
- Dwell: Refers to a secret place or an act of concealment.
- Abide/Rest: Translates directly to “stop, remain, and lodge.”
To shelter in God means to stop, remain, and lodge in the shadow of Almighty God. Resting in that shadow isn’t passive; it gives us the perspective needed to keep ourselves and those around us safe.
4 Ways to Shelter in Place (The Great Commandment)
When forced to stay put, how do we maintain our perspective? We can apply the Great Commandment to process our inner state across four dimensions:
1. Heart: Find Your Motivation
- Ask yourself: What is driving me to get through this?
- Anchor your heart in your core motivations—whether that is yourself, your family, or your partner.
2. Soul: Check Your Spiritual Mood
John Wesley famously asked class leaders, “How is it with your soul?” When depression or heavy moods set in, turn to scriptures that restore and steady the spirit:
- Psalm 23:“The Lord restores my soul.”
- Psalm 103:1:“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!”
- Psalm 42:11:“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him…”
3. Mind: Address the Anxiety
Tension and sleepless nights are physical signals of an anxious mind. We counter worry by reading, praying, and meditating on truths like Matthew 6:25-34:
- Worrying cannot add a single hour to your life.
- If God clothes the grass of the field, He will care for you.
- “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
4. Strength: Care for the Physical Body
- Fuel & Movement: Eat well and keep moving through YouTube home workouts, bodyweight exercises, or outdoor walks.
- Renewal:Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary…”
Note: If you are actively managing 2 out of these 4 areas during a stressful period, you are doing well.
Loving the Neighbors Under Your Roof
The call to shelter highlights the second half of the Great Commandment: Love your neighbor.
During times of isolation or quarantine—when issues like domestic violence tragically spike—our definition of “neighbor” shrinks to our immediate physical environment:
- Spouses and partners
- Family members
- Housemates
- Yourself
Sheltering together tests our patience, but it also creates room to practice true Christian contentment. As Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-13:
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances… I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Shelter is more than four walls—it is a choice to abide in God’s presence, care for our holistic health, and extend grace to those sharing our space.
going into the gym focusing on my breath. Breathing In, Breathing Out. Over and over again. Gently pushing intruding thoughts to the side.
