Your Safe Place
by Annalene Holtzhausen
There’s a well-known saying, often quoted when circumstances threaten to knock us down, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” This can be quite relevant to help us see on the bright side of a situation, but often emotional pain isn’t so easily processed. Sometimes it requires far more time for healing to take place on a deep level.
Words that bring criticism, false accusations, humiliation or misunderstandings can cause deep hurt and even bring a sense of insecurity to our identity in Christ. The Bible often refers to the power of the tongue and the destruction it can cause; ‘In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire’ (James 3:5, NLT).
When we’re hurt in this way, we mostly tend to focus on the person who offended us. This is a normal human reaction and a way to defend and protect ourselves. But if we look at today’s scripture, the Lord has a better way for us work through the pain and unrighteousness of the situation. Proverbs 18:10 (AMP) also reminds us: ‘The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil]’.
When we run to the Lord with our pain and pour out our hearts before Him, we give Him the right to bring His wisdom into our situation and expose the lies of the enemy. We desperately need to hear His heart and truth for us when we’re hurting so deeply. We need to know that we’re safe and set on high above the pain and accusations. If we don’t run to Him, the enemy has so much more freedom to fill our heads with lies, hatred and vengeance.
Our safe place in the Lord reminds us of who we are in His eyes; not in the eyes of the world and the accuser. It helps us to put the situation aside for a moment and focus on the Lord. It’s in these moments that the Lord meets us with His mercy and kindness, speaking to us in that quiet place of connecting with the Father heart of God. Psalm 31:20 reminds us, ‘You hide them in the shelter of Your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in Your presence, far from the accusing tongues’.
Once we’ve found our safe place in the Lord, our fears are calmed and we’re able to hear Him speak into our situation. He’ll guide us and give us wisdom how to move forward and what to do next. When we follow His lead, He can show us the way. His mercy reminds us, ‘For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses]’ (James 3:2, AMP). When we don’t follow Him, the whole situation could become like a wildfire which just brings on more destruction to all involved.
We have a choice: His way, or my way? Which one will draw me near to Him and bring healing to my heart and to those around me?
Prayer: Dear Lord, today I choose to run to You in my pain and hurt. So much injustice has come my way, but You’re my strong tower and I run to You for safety. Please settle my anxious and angry thoughts. Help me to put this aside for a while so I can hear Your truth. Don’t let me be moved by the accusations of the enemy, but let me be moved by Your truth only. In Your footsteps I choose to follow. Amen.
Annalene Holtzhausen is on the Associate Team at Ellel, Africa. She is married to Renier, who introduced her to Ellel Ministries. She is a full-time mother to their two boys. Her passion is for the restoration of women’s hearts and for people to find their worth in the Lord.
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