Psalm 16:8-11
“I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side. I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope. I know you’ll never dump me in Hades; I’ll never even smell the stench of death. You’ve got my feet on the life path with your face shining sun-joy all around.” The Message Bible
A few years ago, I was knee deep in publishing magazines with my husband and raising our four children, one biological and three adopted. The struggle was all too real, and I needed something. I didn’t know what exactly, but I felt dry spiritually.
Oh, I was in church, serving on the worship team, involved in Bible study and showing up every time the doors were open with a smile on my face. If anyone asked, I said I was “fine.”
One evening, our neighbor’s adult daughter was outside. She and her daughter were living with her mother for a while after her divorce. I’m not sure even how the conversation began … just neighbors having a chat.
The next thing I knew, she was handing me a brochure for a God Quest Retreat weekend. My heart skipped a beat. Oh, how I needed that time away, but the logistics of leaving the kids in my husband’s care overwhelmed me. I was pleasantly surprised when, without hesitation, my husband said, “Go. You need it.”
As the weeks passed, I received emails in preparation for the “big” weekend. I really didn’t know much about how it would work, but I was all in.
The day finally arrived. I jumped in the car, said goodbye to the family and at the last minute grabbed a pink quilt that was stitched by my great-grandmother. It was purely on impulse and seemed quite random, but it would speak to me that weekend. It’s twin size and one that I like to wrap up in when I’m cold. It’s also very tattered, but I think its obvious wear gives it character.
The group of ladies gathered for dinner that night and learned the rules of the weekend. Once our opening gathering was finished, we were to remain silent until the final get-together Sunday. What? Of course, no one was keeping score, and if we had an emergency, we could let someone know. It was to be a time of seeking God and nothing else. I was up for the challenge.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
It’s funny how silence is so loud. I found out a few things about myself that weekend:
- I talk to myself.
- I can’t even keep random thoughts out of my head.
- When you are forcing yourself to be silent, everything is noisy. Even the birds and frogs and other random noises of the day seem so loud.
Even among the “noise,” God met me there. I poured my heart out to Him in a way I could not have done in the chaos of home. I desperately needed to hear his voice, and he met me in the stillness.
“For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” Psalm 48:14
God did not take me out my difficult situations. There was no “thus sayeth the Lord,” and I still had to go home to the same struggles and difficulties.
He did, however, let me know he was present in everything, including the beauty of that old tattered pink quilt. The simplicity of the quilt reminded me of God’s love for me. Despite its wear, it was beautiful and comforting and warm. It was healing and inviting. It was an unforgettable and powerful lesson of God’s love and presence in my life.
God invites us to come to him so he can wrap us in his love and warmth, just like a much-loved blanket. That is exactly what he did for me. God desires for us to come and spend time with Him. Maybe a God Quest Retreat isn’t within your means or you are unable to get away. I promise that if you take time to meet with Him, He will keep his promise to meet with you.
I was changed and challenged by the experience. In the intervening time, I’ve had times when I was on top of the spiritual mountain and times when I was in the low valley. As the opening scripture says, “I pitched my tent in the land of hope and kept my feet on God’s life path.”
Prayer:
Father God, I thank you for the opportunity to see you in every situation and even in the beauty of a tattered pink quilt. Bless those who read this and give them a time in your presence. Help them to know they are loved by you. Help them to keep their feet on your path. What an awesome trip it will be!
Discussion questions:
- Have you ever had an object that spoke to your heart? What was God saying to you?
- How can you talk to God when you feel spiritually dry? What are some steps you can take to get back on track spiritually?
- How does God speak to you?
Action steps:
Take time this week to seek God. Don’t let anything get in your way. If needed, get up early or stay up late. Turn off all distractions. Ask your spouse to take the kids for an ice cream cone. Find a way! You will not be sorry.