What to do when the walls are closing in

Faith & Inspiration

By Andrew Moreno, Forest Lake Academy Campus Pastor

Most mornings I begin my devotions by reminding myself of some important promises:

1. I am a child of God
2. God is my father
3. Heaven is my home
4. Every day is one day nearer to heaven
5. My Savior is my brother
6. Every Christian is my brother or sister, too

I think it is important that we speak truths into our lives. It is these truths that allow us to live amid a world of constant turmoil.

At the height of the quarantine I told my wife, “I feel like the walls are closing in.” I am sure we all have felt walls closing in – whether COVID-related or not.

But as the walls closed in, I remembered His truths.

In the book of Psalms, David writes “Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” Psalms 71:3 (NASB)

I serve as Campus Pastor at Forest Lake Academy. This year, our theme was “Dwell with God and change the world.” David understood the value of dwelling with God, especially during times of turmoil. As I remind myself of God’s promises daily, David too held three simple truths dear:

1. God is a delightful repose - a place of rest.

David desired to be on intimate terms not only with, but in God. He wanted not only to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, but for the Lord to be the house. He asked not just to live with God’s world, but in God completely.

With David’s words as a guide, we can examine ourselves. When we make God our home, do we find...

1. A place of rest?
2. Joyful freedom?
3. Intimacy?

When we believe and lean into him, God can make our home - our dwelling with and in him - a place of tender care.

2. In God, there is peaceful security.

This dwelling place is a rock of habitation. It is a safe place. Even though the world around is in turmoil and the walls might be closing in, we are safe.

3. God is a place where I can continue to come.

God yearns for us to experience His fruits: joy, comfort, strength and peace.

As we continue to live in this world of turmoil, may we do it with complete confidence in His truths that we can speak into our lives. “Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” Psalms 71:3 (NASB)