Home is Where the Heart is

Lately, the Lord has been teaching me about family and home. It has only been a year and a half since my mom passed away, yet it feels like forever. She was my home. And since then, I have traveled to three different countries to follow God’s call for my life.

Since I have been living in the Dominican for the past 7 months, I have craved a family. I have craved my mom and our home. I have craved to be a part of a family. And all these desires have been a struggle for me.

I had a choice in this struggle. I could try and fill my life with a family. I could try to find a mother figure. Or, I could let God fill those holes in my heart. Ultimately, these holes could only be filled by Him. I think we all have holes in our hearts. It is easy to fill them ourselves. Sometimes we can fill it with exercise, adventure, social media, or even friends and family. And, yes, God has given us a community so that we can show each other the love of Christ and share our burdens (John 15:12-13 & Galatians 6:2).

So many figures of faith had craved home too. (And I’m sure in one way or another you feel a craving for a home or family also). Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Moses, and Joseph are just some of the nomads. And yet, in Hebrews 11:13-16 NLT, Paul says, “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously, people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

I love how he calls these heroes of faith “foreigners and nomads here on earth” and then reminds us where is home, “they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland.

Home is a feeling we all crave. To be content and full of joy. Sometimes we look for it in others (like I often do). Or maybe in a perfectly designed structure. Or in a plane ticket. Yet, Paul reminds us that we are all looking for a heavenly homeland.

My heart still breaks that I do not have a mother. I am not saying that community is important. Yet, I know that when I am deeply craving a place to call home I am really just craving heaven. And when I try to find all my desires here on earth, then I am not looking in the right places…

I memorized Matthew 6:19-21 three years ago at a summer camp. And it is not until now have I seen how essential this verse is. Jesus said:

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Where are my treasures? We dig for treasures daily. We are motivated daily to do the things we do. Maybe it's family. Maybe it's success. Maybe it's stability. Maybe it's happiness. That emptiness in your heart motivates you. So, where are you looking? Towards this world? Or to our Father in Heaven who promises us His Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

When I started looking toward heaven for a home I began to understand how much the world falls short of God’s joy, peace, and love. And when I looked toward Him, I saw Him provide mentors in my life. Some that have called me a daughter. He provides for us always. Let our hopes be in Him who holds the richest types of treasure.

And my fellow nomads, let us remember what Jesus has told us in John 14:1-4:

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.

Updates:

-I head back to Colorado on May 13. I have truly been blessed to go through this journey in the Dominican Republic over the last 8 months. I would love prayers for the bittersweet goodbyes and safe travels back to the US.

-I have committed to returning to the DR at the end of August 2021! I will continue to do work towards a degree while serving with Students International in a Microfinance site. This site helps women grow financially while also mentoring them through the poverty and relational problems they face. I am so excited to serve there and pour into the change in woman’s lives.

-I love you. & so does the Lord who sent His only Son to die for you (and your sins) to give you eternal life.

-I am $198 away from being fully funded for this semester.

Thank you for reading!

Love,

B