Life is often too much and we find ourselves just wanting to get away; it’s dangerous and we long for a safe retreat to let our guard down. This is not to run away from our responsibilities, but rather to give our soul the space it needs to breathe and rest once again.
To be sure, this is what kids are doing when they build forts, have secret hideouts, or simply hide under the covers. In their own way, they’re creating a refuge. This might be to get away from annoying siblings, when they feel unsafe, or just when they desire to have some peace and quiet. There seems to be a primal need to have a hiding place. And, to be fair, this is not the same as the desire for solitude, as the space might still be shared with others. But even when shared, there is this sense of having a protected place that allows us to be truly at home.
While the particular expressions look different, this desire does not go away as we age. Our homes, man caves, favorite fishing spots, and the like can all serve as our hiding place away from the rest of the world.
Ideally, marriage and our close friendships can also create this space for us. Here, we find relational refuge with each other. In a world of feeling misunderstood, used, and overlooked, we come home to each other – safe and confident to just be ourselves.
And, of course, God is our ultimate hiding place – our shelter in the time of storm. Whatever life brings, he is our refuge and place of protection.
We’re left exposed, anxious, and ineffective when we don’t have a safe place to retreat.
In the end, find your hiding place – your personal refuge that gives your soul the protection and rest it needs.
Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva on Pexels
