Emotionally Safe ... Or Homeless

S

(Psalm 90:1) Lord, Your have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.


O
Moses wrote this while wandering in the desert, escaping the ravages of Pharaoh's hard-heartedness. Hard-heartedness is abusive and leads to homelessness. Through Pharaoh's life, we see it defined: it's "me" measuring people's value only according to their ability to serve me and provide pleasure or some other benefit to me--that, and refusing to take advantage of the opportunities God provides for repentance. It describes our natural, human condition. In the midst of this pervasive abuse, God's love ever exists as a permanent refuge, even while wandering homelessly in emotional and relational deserts.


A (Psychological)
Dr. Huffine described emotional homelessness as one of the cumulative effects of abuse: "While one of the leading causes of homelessness among women and children is domestic violence, every woman (and child) who has been abused is emotionally homeless. A home is not simply a living space, but a place where a person feels safe, comfortable, and can be themselves, acting how they wish to act. In fact, for many, their home is the only place they can fully behave the way they wish. However, in an abusive home, the victim is unable to act fully the way she wishes for many reasons. Likewise, she does not feel emotionally safe, especially when the abuser is present. In that manner, every abused woman is emotionally homeless, even if she does have a physical place to live in."


A (Personal)
Even though I've never experienced domestic violence, I have discovered the reality of God's presence, so I, like Moses, don't have to be emotionally homeless even in abusive social settings. God is my eternal resting place, my safe home where I can be fully myself, even in my imperfections. Like Moses, therefore, pray that God would "teach me to number my days so I may get a heart of wisdom" (verse 12).


P
Lord, because Your mercies are new every morning, satisfy me early each morning with Your steadfast love so I may rejoice and be glad all my days. Let Your work be shown to Your servant and Your glorious power to all of Your children. Let Your favor and beauty rest upon us, and establish the works of our hands for the healing of the nations.