My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. (Isaiah 32:18 ESV)
Home
We came home recently. After a fantastical voyage of over 6,807 miles, we unlocked our front door and came home. News from the world promised war, economic hardship, reasons for fear, and even bad weather. But our homecoming was a thing of peace, of security, and of rest.
Because God promises His people those things.
I am not naïve. There were ‘problems.’ We were exhausted (but not grumpy.) Our sleep schedule was way off. Aches and pains were increasing. We still had to unpack. It was fourth winter here in Kansas. We had to rise too early the next morning. Our bills would be following us through the door. Work loomed. Friends were hurting. Prices are rising. Sin crouched at the door.
But God has blessed our home.
Interestingly, a common adornment to many buildings in Iceland is the phrase, "Drottinn blessi heimilið.” It means, “God bless this house.” It is interesting because on the whole, Iceland is not inhabited by Christians. Yet they ask for God to bless their homes.
They want what God has given us.
Yes, Isaiah is obviously talking about our heavenly home. But Isaiah was also talking about our physical, geographic, feet-on-the-ground homes.
We are His people. Because of Christ’s difficult work, our homes are different.
We get to expect and experience peace, security, and rest. It might not always look like it. And our problems are real. But God guarantees that we will understand. He has blessed our homes.
We are peculiar, God blesses our homes.