Finding a Home in Jesus - with Erica Rivers

I don’t know about you, but I’m a homebody.

I love getting out of the house but as soon as I hit my social interaction limit for the day, I’m ready to go home, throw on my jammies, take off my makeup, and jump into my soft, fluffy bed.

But lately, I’ve found myself in an uncomfortable predicament. 

I don’t have a place to call “home” right now.

You see, my sweet husband, Jackson, was recently offered his dream job in his hometown, and we were both praising Jesus and happy dancing as soon as we got the call! 

As joyful as we both were, this meant I would be leaving my cozy hometown for the first time ever, and we only had 2 weeks to pack up and say goodbye to what I always knew as “home”...

Erica and her husband, Jackson, smiling in front of their previous home in Carrollton.

But there was a catch...

We learned our soon-to-be home would not be finished in time for us to move in once Jackson’s job started.

Thus, my oh-so gracious and loving father-in-law has allowed us to crash at his house for the time being.

What we thought would be super quick renovations has turned into a 5 week long sleepover with my father-in-law. 

And as much as I love family time, I really miss having a place to call my own. 

I miss being home.

But God has been reminding me of something through my homesickness.

Home is not a place. 

Home is not your address.

Home is not where you reside. 

I keep hearing God say, “I am here.” 

And I’ve started realizing that what He means by that is that He is here with me, and that is all I need. It doesn’t matter where I live or what my address may or may not be.

God isn’t just found in the comforts this life has to offer. You can find Him in the uncomfortable parts of life, too. Through being homesick, I’ve found Him here more than I have in a long time.

Last Sunday afternoon, Jackson and I decided to get out of the house and enjoy the sunshine and lush, green pasture his dad lives on. After walking about a mile in, we discovered a peaceful, slow moving stream of water. 

Erica from behind sitting on her father-in-law’s fence looking off into the field with the sunset in the background.

As fate would have it, that same morning, our pastor had preached a message on Psalm 23.

Growing up in a Christian home, I’ve always heard this Psalm, but on this particular Sunday stroll, it was almost as if God were whispering it straight into my soul.

“The Lord is my shepherd;

    I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

    He leads me beside peaceful streams.

    He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

    bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk

    through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

    for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

    protect and comfort me

You prepare a feast for me

    in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

    My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

    all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” 

(Psalm 23:1-6)

Wherever you are, I pray you, too, will find rest in God. 

I’m living proof that sadness is real, and I’m sure you, too, have experienced sadness.

But Jesus is also very real, and if we rest in Him, we have all that we will ever need.

When we go looking for Him, we’ll realize He was there all along. Through the darkest valleys, we do not have to be afraid for He is with us.