She sleeps with them every night. Soft Kitty, Rainbow Bear, Brownie the Horse and Wrinkles the Dog. Stuffed animals—dozens of them—piled high on the covers and around her pillow and tucked under her loving arms. My two-year-old so craves the company of her plush friends, she barely leaves enough room for herself in that narrow toddler bed.
Comfort. Warmth. Security. Softness. They’re basic human needs, really, and so freely expressed in childhood. We swaddle our babes from infancy and hug away their fears. We send them to school in undershirts and snow pants and extra gloves. Drink this warm milk. Take this hot bath. Mother loves you. I will keep you snug.
Doesn’t everybody yearn for protection?
I still do. Sometimes, like my daughter, I seek it in small places. In the favorite sweater I wrap around my shoulders on a biting winter day. A fleece blanket draped heavy over sweatpants while I clutch a book in one hand and a steaming mug in the other.
Safety is that spot on my husband’s chest, where I rest my weary head and whisper hopes for tomorrow.
Where do you seek it?
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection,” (Psalm 91:1–4, NLT).
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine God as my protector. I can’t wrap my arms around him or hear his voice chatting at the dinner table. Of course he is always with me, yes, I believe that in my head—yet my heart just doesn’t picture him sitting on a bean bag chair in the living room.
Then I considered Psalm 91 and it dawned on me—maybe God isn’t in the room.
God is the room.
He is the overarching shadow that covers all my space and days and worries. No mound of teddy bears, no stack of blankets, not even my husband’s strongest embrace could ever top that.
Do you see? Deep down, our basic need for comfort is a mere reflection of our greater need for a Savior. God created us to crave security because, in the end, he’s the only place we can find it.
“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12, NLT).
Last night, I tucked my daughters into bed and turned off the lamp. My two-year-old burrowed beneath her cluster of fuzzy pals and giggled. “Nigh-night, Mommy!”
“Good night, precious. Mom loves you.”
“I love you, too!”
In my heart, another voice whispered to us all.
Father loves you. I will keep you snug.
That is the summary of Psalm 91. As my daughter outgrows her affection for Soft Kitty and Rainbow Bear, I pray she’ll seek lasting security in her true Protector, the One who covers her with his feathers and shelters her with his wings.
What a comforting thought, yes? I’m taking it to my pillow tonight. I hope you will, too.
If this post encouraged you, please pass it on. You might also like I Love You Lots and Cows, How Big Is God, and When You Wake Up With a Foot in Your Face.
Linking up with: The Better Mom, Playdates With God, The Mom Initiative, Titus 2sdays, Grace at Home, Rethinking My Thinking, What He’s Done Wednesday, Wedded Wednesday, and Things I Can’t Say.
BEAUTIFUL!
You bless me, Laura. 🙂
“God isn’t in the room. God is the room.”
Yes! More and more I’m understanding that. And it makes all the difference. Thanks for sharing, Becky.
It does make all the difference, doesn’t it, Lisa? I’m learning that, too. Thanks for reading!
I love the line, “God created us to crave security because, in the end, he’s the only place we can find it.” I think I’m going to tweet that today, Becky, and give you all the credit and link back! Thanks for another inspiring post!
Thanks, Beth! I appreciate you so much!
Oh- I need to post this reminder all over my house— pink post it notes here I come–“God isn’t in the room. God is the room!” Love your wisdom and the gift I find here Every Monday. Blessings, friend!
I smile to picture those pink post-its, Alicia! I sure hope we get a chance to meet in person some day, my fellow sticky-notes-all-over-the-house friend!
Well I feel warm and cozy now! 🙂 Thanks! Tonight warm bowl of soup, and Jesus!
And I’m sitting here with my trusty fleece blanket on my lap as I type… again. 🙂
On my way to a cup of hot chocolate after reading this!
Mmmm…hot chocolate. 🙂
I love this. I never quite looked at the verse this way, “God is the room.” But yes, under His wings, His shadow, we find refuge. Thank you for this beautiful story.
Visiting from Darlene’s. 🙂
Thanks for visiting, Michele!
Thank you. I am a safety seeker since my childhood. Always looking, seeking for safety. After a robbery, I was very insecure as a teenager. Therefore, this psalm 91 is so important to me. Even if people fail in their protection for us, we can always trust in our invisible God. He is there. He’ll be there.
I can relate to that, Jedidja. Invisible but very real nonetheless.
I’ll never forget how, when my son was wee, he left his favorite stuffed dog on my pillow for me after I’d had a bad day. It was the sweetest. I pray this for my boys too, Becky–that He would be their comfort. Lovely telling, my friend.
Oh that memory warms my heart, Laura. Just precious. Thank you for sharing!
So beautiful! I see my daughter snug in among her stuffed animals and her favorite blanket. I remember myself as a child doing the same thing. Now I take comfort in my blankets, my coffee and tea and in the warm embraces of my husband, same as you describe. It is beautiful to know that there is a comfort beyond all of those things, Jesus Christ. What an amazing day!
We don’t ever outgrow the need, do we? This morning my daughter brought an armful of her stuffed animals into MY bed, and I smiled. (Even though it was 5 a.m. and she was up way too early.) 🙂
What a beautiful post Becky! Makes me want to make a cup of tea, find my blanket and curl up in my couch with a book (but I have to finish packing and rush out…!) I love how you connect our need for security from that young age to our need for our Savior. Wonderful thoughts.
Such a beautiful thought. xo
I just went to a Bible study this morning where the subject was the name of God, El Elyon: God Most High. The verse that kept coming to mind is Romans 8:35-39, which in my own words says, No tribulation or distress can separate us from Christ, for we are more than conquerers through Him who loves us. Nothing is able to separate us from the love of the Most High.
As kids, my sister and I almost couldn’t get into our bedroom for all the stuffed friends we accumulated. I still have a few strategically placed around my home now. 🙂 I used to sleep with my bible on my bed, opened to Psalm 91. It just gives me peace. Now, of course, my wonderful new hubby is taking up that spot. But God’s word and promises to comfort and protect us rest in my heart.
Beautiful, Becky! Beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing the love in your heart and the wisdom God has given you. 🙂
Beautiful words! My daughter is 7 and she still has her bed piled high with stuffed animals.
Beautiful post. I love, maybe God is the room. Yes. I will often think of this. Thank you for sharing.
Have a great day!
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Thank you for the reminder that we’re not alone! So glad you linked up with Coffee for Your Heart this week! XO
What a comforting story, and explanation of Psalm 91. When I was a little girl, I use to walk around a dark room or house at night wrapped in a blanket because it made me feel secure. I love the way you described how maybe “God is the room,” (or my blanket).