A Reflection by Rev. Louise Johnson, LEAD Director of Leadership Development
Psalm 90:1-2
Lord, you 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.
I have seen some spectacular churches in my days – beautiful buildings that speak of the power, promise, and presence of God.
Some bear the names of those who helped to build them. Some bear the marks of time and use – worn fabrics where old knees bend to pray or faded pews, used for support when life is weighty. Walls that don’t just speak, but sing the praise of the generations reverberating through time, angel choruses singing along. In one way or another, churches stand as reminders of the great cloud of witnesses – those gone before us, who made sure there was a place to come to, a faith to practice, a witness to see.
Though I know in my heart of hearts that a church is not a building, I miss the building.
There is something about the sacred space of a church that seems to contain God and me in a way that makes me feel less alone in this struggle called life.
I miss the building.
I miss the singing. I miss the nearby shoulders of struggling saints, longing for a clean start and something to feed our deepest hungers.
I miss the building.
Moses begins this Psalm, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” And it awakens me to the truth that, even though I love a good church, God has chosen not to dwell in places, but in time, in history, with us.
Who would know better than Moses? He was barely out of the womb before his first trip took him down a river to a new people, a new home, and a new life. Then he wandered 40 years in the wilderness and died there, forbidden from reaching anything at all like home, church, or place.
Moses didn’t have a “church home,” as we like to say. Or maybe it’s better said that his church home was not a place, but the experience of God’s portable presence. Wherever Moses went, God was there. And when he was without a home (which was most of his life), God was there, homeless along with him. So, who would know better than Moses what it means to experience God as our dwelling place?
God tents with the people in the wilderness, stays with them, becoming their home no matter where they went. But it still wasn’t quite close enough for God. In Jesus, God takes up residence in a human body, forever entangling human and divine DNA, so that there is nowhere we can go that God does not go, too. Nowhere.
I miss the building, but I am reminded today that God goes with us, dwelling in our DNA in ways I can barely fathom, serving as a dwelling place for me, for us, as God has for all generations.
So today, I honor my body as the place where God has chosen to dwell and all the other human bodies where that is also true. And I am grateful for the company in these lonely days apart from our buildings and gatherings.
Love this! Thank you for your words of comfort and hope!
Thank you for your words of encouragement about the God who dwells with us as our dwelling place.
I too miss the building and shoulder to shoulder camaraderie in sharing our faith and singing His praises so I appreciate the heart to heart that He remains and dwells within us always !
Thank You. Take Care God Bless✨🕊
Thank you Louise! I appreciate your naming “I miss the building” and still honoring that God abides in us wherever we are. I have equated our folks “missing the building” and getting to return inside like a college student coming home after a semester. There is a true sense of home and the family of God gathered together in that sacred space so that we are reoriented to see God at work in and through us, and already out there in others throughout the week!
Thank you for this devotion. Wonder if I have your permission to share the devotion with the congregation I serve?
You are always welcome to share our devotions and blogposts! We would appreciate it if you would credit Pastor Louise Johnson and LEAD so others can check out the many resources we offer for leaders.
Thank you for allowing me to share this.
Yes, of course I would give full credit to Pr. Louise Johnson and LEAD. I always do give credit where it should be credited.
Blessings on your ministry
How beautiful Bonnie. I agree with you completely.
My prayers for my church family and friends and hope that we can be together for our church service and I just miss being with our family and friends and our church ⛪️
Thank you so much for this timely reminder of where God dwells. I submitted this to our monthly newsletter, with full credit. Blessings on your ministry.
Wonderful