If there is anything this pandemic has revealed is that anxieties have more to do with us than our circumstances. It’s easy to forget where we live—more accurately, where we ought to live. We are faced with the reality that the pain and angst of life most often originates from the haunting “fear of evil” and uncertainty that plagues us—even as believers. We find our lives filled with ‘supposes’ and ‘what-if’s’. Suppose this happens, or what if that happens? Suppose I get COVID? What if I infect somebody else in my family? What if I lose my job or things never return to ‘normal’? What am I to do? How can I bear it?
The difference between fearful living and faith-filled living is determined by where we dwell—the habitation of our soul. Do you dwell in the place of fear and anxiety or the ‘high tower’ of God’s shalom? The Psalmist declares, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). In her classic devotional, The God of All Comfort, Hannah Whithall Smith noted that “our souls are made for God. He is our natural home, and we can never be at rest anywhere else.” Psalm 84 supports this observation: “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” It is how we were fashioned by our Maker.
What Does Dwelling Look Like?
But what does it mean to “dwell in the shelter of the Most High”? What does ‘dwelling’ look like? Before I attempt to explore the answer to that question, pause for a moment and consider why we should. Certainly, we have an innate longing for that intimate relationship with our Maker. But what is the motivation that drives us to acknowledge that longing? Psalm 91 gives us some clues in verses 4-6.
He will cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
Nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
Nor the plague that destroys at midday.
The ‘shadow of the Almighty’ is like the tender care of an eagle or mother hen who covers her young under her comforting, protective wings. It’s not that troubles cease, but that in those troubles there is comfort and shelter in the shadow of a mother’s wings. This is descriptive of all true mothers, whether human, bird or a fierce tiger. It is also true of our God, the Maker of all mothers, who longs to shelter us in the most impregnable and tender fortress ever given for us dwell—the shadow of His wings. Why we would not want to dwell there? The only thing that might keep you from wanting to dwell there is that you don’t believe it to be true.
If you do believe it, then you have only to act on what you know is true—move into your natural dwelling place. If you don’t believe it, stop and ask yourself why. Suppose a friend or relative were to purchase a home for you, sign all the required paperwork to make it yours, and hand the deed and keys to you. You do not need to ask how to get it. You simply pack up your things and move in. In the same way, the dwelling place of God is already bought and assigned to you. All you have to do is move in and live there. The keys have been given to you and Christ invites you to abide there.
You and I must by faith accept what has already been secured and choose to abide. We make Him our habitation by faith. Faith is both believing and acting on what is true by putting aside our worries and anxiety. When we enter the dwelling place of God, we cannot do so by bringing the worries and cares of the world into that place, except to lay them at Jesus’ feet and refuse to carry them with us.
It’s sometimes easier to focus on outward activities and observances and neglect the inward duty to not let our heart be troubled. What freedom from anxiety can be found if all we do is obey outward commands to serve and give, but disobey the commands to rest and trust in Him?
“Ah, but it’s so hard”, you say. “I’m so weak and helpless… and unworthy.” It is right to feel such things, but it’s foolish to dwell there. Again, let me quote from Hannah Smith’s devotional:
What would we think of the little chicken that would see the hawk coming, would hear the mother calling, and see her outspread wings, but would stand outside, trembling with fright, saying, ‘Oh, I am such a poor, weak, foolish, helpless little chicken that I am afraid I am not worthy to go under my mother’s wings’? If the mother hen could speak, I am sure she would say, ‘You poor, foolish little thing. It is just because you are weak and helpless, and good for nothing, that I want you to come under my wings.’”
More Than a Visit
Yet, we must be careful not to think that the dwelling place of God is merely someplace to run in times of trouble. This is not a place to ‘visit’ when we feel the need. It is a dwelling place—a place in which we are to abide. It is where we are to live. Abiding is trusting. When I trust Him, I will abide with Him. If I only trust Him when it’s convenient, then I am not abiding with Him. I run to him, and then run out again. That is not abiding. Abiding is fully trusting Him and walking by faith in His grace and care whatever the circumstance.
The Christmas season ought to renew that longing as we recall why Jesus came. He came, not only to free us from the just condemnation of our sin and give us a promise of eternal life, but to also free us from ourselves and draw us to Himself where He promises rest for our souls. It was this message that was proclaimed by the heavenly host to the shepherds announcing the birth of the Christ Child’s: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.”
As forgiven and redeemed children of God through faith in the risen Christ, we have the pleasure of God upon us and his beckoning to us to dwell in the shelter of His peace and rest. Each of us must choose whether we will dwell by faith where we are meant to dwell, or dwell in fear where we were never meant to dwell. Where is your dwelling place?
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