healing | Living in God's Shadow

I like broken things. I guess it is because I can see the potential in each fractured object. Perhaps that is why I like broken people. I grew up around broken people. I identify with broken people because they are the ones who accept me as I am. After being around those who have suffered abuse, who have had addiction problems, or were outcasts even though they did not know why I have learned that they tend to be real. They do not pretend that they are perfect people. They are not afraid to admit they could use help. They understand the reality and grittiness of life. When was the last time you saw the people around you?

I remember listening to the stories my high school friends told. They bragged about who had carved various graffiti on the walls of the jail cells in their hometown. There was a hollow lifelessness to their laughter when they told these stories. They seemed desperate to find hope that life could be better in the future.

When we live in God’s shadow, we see more than the drunk in the stairwell, the drug user looking for a fix, or the child outside the circle of play longing to be a part. We see broken humans, not prostitutes, or drug pushers, or pimps. We begin to recognize that the brokenness we see in society is an expression of others’ frustration as they search for the peace we have found in God’s shadow. When we allow God to give us His vision for humanity, we understand that we must point others to the healing found in His shadow.

Every human faces brokenness to one extent or another. Only God, Who created us, can repair us. While we cannot solve every other person’s problems, we can point them to God. He can bring inner healing and hope. God invites every individual to come to Him; their history is irrelevant. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV). Nothing stops the love of God. It is impossible to be too broken for God to want you or be able to bring healing to you.

Jesus gave us an example of offering hope and new life to people when He talked with the Samaritan woman at the well. He knew, and she admitted that she had been married five times and was now living with another man who was not one of the husbands. Her society had made it clear to her that she was an outcast and not worth anything. Then came Jesus offering her a path to God and a chance to live a new life. Jesus showed her hope for the future that was greater than she had imagined was possible. Here was an opportunity to turn her life around. Maybe she would not have to get her supply of water in the heat of the day. Possibly she could live in a way that her name would no longer be a byword. (Read the entire story in John 4)

I grew up as an outsider. It was not because I wanted to be; it was because others found excuses to exclude. At one school I attended, I faced rejection because I was a pastor’s kid; at another, it was because of my skin color; at a third, my theological beliefs did not match their religious views. My family often moved when I was young, so I never grew roots. The people around my family were continually changing, making lasting friendships almost impossible. I know what it means to be the outsider, one of the last ones picked in recess games, the feeling that you never quite measure up to the expectations put on you. I know what it is to be broken and unwanted. Then there was God, who inexplicably loved me despite the broken places. He invited me to live in His shadow and learn about Him and how much He cared for me.

One of the things that happen when we live in God’s shadow is that we desire to invite others to this place of acceptance and healing. We are broken humans telling other broken humans where we found love and repair for our damaged parts. We can tell the suicidal person where to find meaning in life and a future filled with promise. In God’s shadow, there is hope for the hopeless.

I know what it is to feel that I had to hide who I was because of what others would say. Living in God’s shadow allows me to proclaim who I am and to receive direction from God as I seek to improve my life and outlook.

While living in God’s shadow does not guarantee that we will be wealthy or never have problems; it does establish our value as a person. It gives direction and meaning to life.

Humanity faces brokenness worldwide. The broken are not just on the street corner or under the bridge. Broken humans are everywhere and in every walk of life. Yes, they can be found everywhere, from brothels to the executive suites of large companies. The calling of every follower of God is to point the broken ones to the shelter and hope of God’s shadow. When we live that close to God, we can hear God ask people to spread hope like the prophet Isaiah did. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” Isaiah 6:8 (NRSV)

My wife, daughter, and I have responded to God’s call to offer the hope of new life in Him to others. We have accepted an opportunity to move to Paraguay, South America, and serve long term with our church. We will assist others in finding God’s shadow so they can live in hope, acceptance, and healing. Provided the pandemic subsides and international borders re-open, we plan to move in the summer of 2021. If you want to know more about our work there or would like to partner with us as we serve, please contact me at tim@livingingodsshadow.com or go to our profile at Stearns Profile

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The air raid sirens wailed. Firetrucks drove up and down the streets of the small town in Indiana. We stood on the second floor, looking out of the windows, watching the storm, and laughing at the firemen. We surmised that the firemen lacked anything else to do. We were unaware that a tornado had been spotted near our town. We did not understand that the air raid siren was a tornado warning. We did not know, the firemen were trying to keep people safe. Our lack of understanding was due to our lack of experience. We were from western Montana. We had no experience with tornados. We only knew a severe thunderstorm was occurring.

I have come to realize everyone faces storms in their life. These storms of life often feel like they will uproot the whole world. Many times we fail to recognize the warnings given and the dangers present in the storms of life. This is because we have never experienced these types of storms before. These storms of life will vary in type and intensity. Sometimes they will be a bad weather storm like a tornado that destroys everything we own. Other times it will be a storm in our relationships, or our health, or our finances. Occasionally, the storm will be the death of a loved one. In these storms of life, we will be buffeted by the wind, drenched by the rain, and bruised by the hail. God does not always prevent these storms. When we live in His shadow, He is with us through the storm. God offers us the comfort and the strength to stand throughout the storm.

We will not understand the “why” for every storm that comes into our lives. We may not comprehend the reason for any of the storms we encounter. God is with us whether we understand the storm or not. There is no storm that frightens God.

It is in these stormy times, God reminds us, he wants us, we are valuable to Him, and He is still writing our story. The storms may make us think that our story is over. Yet, God reminds us that our story is not over until He says it is. When the time comes for our story to end, He will give us the grace to face that storm as well.

My sisters and I would huddle around my mother during those severe thunderstorms. Attempting to comfort and calm us, she would take us to the basement or a more central room. Inside the refuge she chose, the sound of the storm was muted. She would sing to us and try to get us to join in. While her efforts did not lessen the intensity of the storm, they did offer us comfort. When mom was there, we had hope. Similarly, God stands with us, encouraging us, reassuring us, and holding us as the storms of life wash over us.

Stormy times arise when we least expect them. They are times when it appears the lies others tell about us are going to win the day. Situations where we feel our character has been assassinated. Times when we are told, we are unnecessary and unwanted. These storms cause us to question whether we have any value. These storms can also make us ask if God still loves us.

I recall a storm in my life. It was a time when everything seemed to have gone wrong. I felt unneeded by the church I attended at the time. I found myself on the outside of the group I had considered friends. The only place that people seemed to accept me was in the secular realm. During this storm, I prayed. I asked God for hope, some sort of an anchor point. His reply was, “Do you believe that I love you?” My first response was a quick affirmation that I did. But God persisted, “Do you truly believe that I love you?” This exchange was repeated daily for a while. I was so damaged from the storm, I did not understand the question. Eventually, I realized that because of all the trauma of the storm, I had started to doubt God’s love. I had begun to question if God still loved me, still valued me, and still had a plan for me. Listening to His voice, I realized He loved me intensely. God had not made unfavorable comments about me. God had not misunderstood my actions and misinterpreted my intentions. It was not God who had said that I was unneeded. It was not God who had indicated I was without value and had no further purpose in His plan.

The storm of accusations whirling around me, the voices of others, had said and done those things. I realized I had to refocus on God and on living in His shadow. There was no doubt the storm was big and scary. It seemed never-ending. I felt like it was impossible to stay anchored during the storm. But God was there, whispering, “I love you” and holding me tighter than I had ever experienced. He was patient with me. Helping me to understand that He was with me and that my story was not over yet.

We try to fight life’s storms by ourselves. We want to believe we can handle anything. God will allow us to try to fight the storm in our strength if we insist. Yet, He welcomes us back when we are overwhelmed by the storm and flee to the refuge of His shadow.

God’s shadow is a place of refuge, healing, and restoration. I can never remember God saying, “See, I told you so.” when I came running back to Him. I have found that He simply starts from where I am and goes about helping me to repair the damage the storm has inflicted. I may beat myself up, saying, “I should have known better.” but He just says, “Do you love me? Will you let me heal the wounds the storm caused?” Everyone is welcome to find the refuge of God’s Shadow.

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