My soul's refuge

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Sometimes life throws a curveball that hits you smack in the chest.


You may be humming along in your life, filled with good things, when that hard pitch knocks you right over.


And if you're like me, stunned by the sudden takedown, you close your eyes and stick your fingers in your ears and chant, "Lalalalalalala," and you thrash around there in the mud, pretending you're still playing the game.


And then maybe after a couple weeks of attempting to seal off your heart from feeling pain, even as it keeps springing leaks all over the place, your Father gently lets you know you're in no state to play and calls you off the field.


And then you lay down your very important responsibilities that served as your hiding place, and go away to a lonely place to pray.


And there the Faithful One meets you, and washes His Word over you as you weep out the hurt on your knees before Him.


Maybe the circumstances don't change.  But maybe your own heart does.  Maybe there you find strength to forgive, to lay down control, to pray for those who mistreat you.  Maybe the bulk of the pain is transferred to stronger shoulders and your mind starts to ponder how you yourself can bless those who persecute you.


Maybe the Holy Spirit opens your eyes afresh to see Jesus--King of glory--dying on the cross for your sins, and your indignant pride melts and your astonishment at the grace you've been given grows.


Maybe then, after some days of immersion in the Bible and prayer, maybe then you can return to the field, entrusting yourself, and your heart, and your life, and the task of healing before you, to Him who judges righteously; the Guardian of your soul.

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{1 Peter 2:21-25}