Do you have a haven? A place where you go or a thing that you do that sets your mind right again? Being a mom with three young children, it’s a difficult thing to find! There are a lot of emotional challenges that come my way throughout the day and a haven is a must-have for survival.
My haven, my safe place of peace, is in God’s Word. I’m wondering if that’s not a surprise to you. It really is. But it wasn’t always that way. In fact, it wasn’t until about 5 years ago that Scripture truly held that position in my life.
I grew up in a Christian home where we religiously went to church every Sunday morning. Though I enjoyed the music and sometimes even perked up at things the pastor said, I didn’t understand the importance of why we went or the benefit of sitting in a pew for two hours. My parents had taught me that God was real and He was important. I believed them and I thought that I believed Him, too. But there was a long road ahead in discovering His truth for myself, and how He fit into my life. After graduating high school, I tried finding my own spiritual way apart from my parents. There was often a three-way battle between what I wanted, what the world said, and what I was taught was right. It seemed the raging desires of my flesh were winning but I knew I was digging myself into a hole. Many of the decisions I made were outside of what I knew was right and what the Bible said. They left scars in my life as a consequence of sin. I still went to church, not because I wanted to, but rather because I knew it was what I was supposed to do.
It wasn’t until I joined a small Bible study at someone’s house about 13 years ago that I really understood the importance of reading the Bible.
Most of the time when I opened the Bible, I didn’t understand it. At all. The Psalms seemed to be the only thing that made a little sense to me. Reading my Bible was a box to check off on my legalistic to-do list (more on that some other time). But when I entered into intimate fellowship with other believers, in a house where we all opened up God’s Word together verse by verse, a change began to happen. That was just the beginning of understanding though. It took many years from that point to get to where I am. It did, however, open up the door to the realization that reading the Word was important. It dawned on me that having conversations with other believers about God’s Word actually helped me to understand it too!
As I climbed the ladder of faith, I stepped out of my comfort zone and joined a women’s group going through Growing Strong In God’s Family. My goodness, that study anchored my soul to God’s Word. The principles of memorizing Scripture and intentional prayer time continue to bear fruit even to this day. The group was led by a women my age. I remember being in awe of her insight into the Word of God and feeling a desire for the same thing, but having no clue how to “achieve” it.
At the young age of 15 I had a desire to teach God’s Word. When I was in high school I tried leading a Bible study at my house. God bless those friends who attended though! I had no idea what I was doing and I guarantee much of what I tried to say was saturated with hypocritical legalism (plank-in-my-eye style) and frustration-filled rants. The fact was that the Lord did want me to teach but what I hadn’t understood was that it was His word, not mine. I am so grateful for His grace that covers a multitude of sin; perhaps well-intended, but still sin.
Fast forward to about six years ago, when my husband and I moved across the state with two toddlers in tow, leaving all family, friends, and church. The impact it had on our family was profound. It took an entire year of anxiety, depression, panic, and loneliness to get me back into a Bible study. The study I chose to join was intense. If I would have known what I was walking into, I probably would have never went to the meeting. It was a Kay Arthur study, Precept Upon Precept, and the type of studying was called inductive Bible study. The method is taught in many Bible colleges and seminaries. Needless to say, it required time and effort. I just wanted to go through God’s Word verse by verse! But the fruit, guys. The the toil, the effort, the time–they were an investment not only in things eternal, but also in the here and now. I cannot tell you how incredible these last 5 years have been because of this method of studying God’s Word. I could actually understand most of what I was reading! And it’s remarkably simple. Hallelujah!
Reading the Bible and actually understanding what it says does something incredible to our faith, our hope, our soul. It was like I was meeting the Lord for the first time. It didn’t take long to see the fruit of that labor and find the haven of peace that I so desperately needed.
Reading the Bible and actually understanding what it says does something incredible to our faith, our hope, our soul. It was like I was meeting the Lord for the first time. It didn’t take long to see the fruit of that labor and find the haven of peace that I so desperately needed.
Struggles are still struggles. Challenges still comes daily. But now I know where to go. And it’s not a box to check off or something from the list of “Christian Must-Do’s” that I’m meeting. It is the place I run to because I now know where to get the medicine… the healing and restoration I need. I search for that filling and I find it!
With great confidence I can say that there are two things that make me excited, fulfilled, and whole again: Reading God’s Word and teaching God’s Word to other women. I so desire for you to see the simplicity of Scripture! They are hidden treasures, for sure. But they are treasures longing to be found. And I know Who has the map. I can take you to Him!
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30