Back in January of 2022 I had a dream where I found myself in a room of a rather tall building with many people who I knew I was familiar with. As they all carried on with their discussions, oblivious to what was about to happen, I was frantic because I knew the building was about to shake and collapse. I had a knowing that I had experienced a similar shaking previously and survived. So, I knew what to do. I searched for my passport and placed it in my purse and then got ready to hide under the bed. Before I did, I stared at a picture of women from the suffrage movement, then I woke up as the building started to shake.
I asked God what this meant and over a couple of days, even months he revealed bits and pieces until I had a better understanding. He was showing me that I would begin to see structures, establishments, lives that appeared solid and majestic begin to crumble and be dismantled.
He would be allowing anything not built on him as its foundation to be dismantled. While this would be widespread, on a smaller scale I would see this happening in the lives of people around me. And I would even experience it. I was hoping I would be exempt because listen I had already experienced seasons of intense shaking and your girl was tireddd. But alas if 2022 and 2023 are any indicators, no one is exempt. But I find solitude in the knowing where to go to for help.
1 Corinthians 3 calls us his buildings and admonishes that there can be no other foundation but the foundation that is Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12, speaks about God shaking all of creation so that everything that can be shaken – anything which is of this world and temporary, unstable, unsecured- can be removed, and consequently only the unshakable can remain.
In this dream, I knew the keys to making it through such a shaking and remaining solid was in putting my passport in a secure place and finding refuge under the bed. My passport was symbolic of my identification/identity. So as the holy spirit gave me further revelation, I understood that the only way to make it through a time where everything seems to be coming apart is to first learn what God says about me. This is the only identification that is secure. Why? Because God’s word is unchangeable (Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8), whatever he says about me cannot change, no matter the circumstances I’m facing. No matter what I have or don’t have. No matter what’s taken away or even what people say.
God's word is unchangeable.
The other important key is it to find refuge in him. Refuge means a condition of being sheltered from danger or trouble. Going under the bed in the dream symbolized finding a safe place. God is THE ultimate refuge, a proven safe place in times of trouble (psalm 46:1, psalm 59:16)
Why am I sharing this?
Well recently again I woke up with the words “I’m bringing the rain and I’m shaking all things” and immediately I thought of the flood in the days of Noah, where everyone was eating and merry not realizing what was to come. Now of course, God’s promise to the world is that there will never be a flood of that magnitude ever again. And yet I understood that what I was hearing was referring to a deluge, an onslaught he was speaking off, though not literal, was still important enough to note. I knew I needed to start sharing the insights he had given me and make it practical enough to be of help to anyone who needs it.
What does it mean to secure your identity in God and find refuge in him?
First, where do you look to for your Identity?
It’s very easy to identify yourself based on who you know, what you make, your job titles, your positions in society, what people think of you, how you look, your relationship status, who your friends are, how much money you have etc.
Our natural tendency as people is to look to the external to determine who we are. However, these are all temporary metrics because they can change without notice. You can lose a job at any time, a relationship and or friendship can end abruptly, you can get into an accident that alters how you look or how you operate, and when any of these things happen, we can find our entire perception of self, crumbling as well. What may have felt solid becomes unstable because truly none of these things are permanent.
God and his word however are unchanging. What he says is permanent!
He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So, when you view yourself through the lens of how he defines you, you can know that its solid.
Let’s look at some of the ways HE sees and defines you!
Chosen (Ephesians 2:19 - God sent His son to die for you, so you could be grafted into His family. Being chosen was not based on performance or credentials, but on Jesus's righteousness and love for you. Therefore, your mistakes cannot push Him away from you. You are part of His family, and He sees you and claims you as His own. The boss of all bosses sees and calls you His own! This is a profound truth that nothing and no one can discredit. So let that sink in and be comforted.
Masterpiece (Ephesian 2:10) - You are a genuine masterpiece my friend, lovingly crafted by God himself with a specific purpose in mind. And guess what? Even if you've wandered off track, it doesn't change the fact that you were created for something spectacular. Here's a little analogy: imagine a pair of scissors. They were made to snip and slice, but if they accidentally end up in the garden and get caked in dirt, they're still scissors. The same goes for you! Even if life has thrown you some curveballs or you've made some missteps, you were still designed for specific good works by the ultimate creator, and that's exactly how he sees you.
New creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) – Thanks to Jesus, you can hit the reset button on your life. As humans, we're bound to stumble and fall, but that doesn't define us. With Jesus, we become restored and reborn. Through his amazing grace and forgiveness, you can leave your past behind and move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and hope, knowing that God looks at you like a new person, restored and redeemed.
Ultimately knowing how he see you and what he thinks of you starts with getting to know him. Seeking out his character in his word and just becoming familiar with who he is. This helps to then familiarize you with your father so you can trust him enough to go to him for help and find refuge in him.
Finding refuge in him might sound like such a complicated concept but it’s as simple as leaning towards him. It is trusting that he is the one that holds the key to all dilemmas, where we dont. Instead of seeking to solve all of life’s care relying on self or the familiar ways we are used to, it’s turning to him first. While I say it's simple, I know firsthand that it's not the easiest thing to do. Our nature is to seek escape through instant gratification, relying on vices like substances or even relationships as a form of escape or control. But we know that these can turn out to just be mere illusions.
When I find myself struggling with something, my natural tendency is to avoid it. I turn to my television shows or mindlessly scroll through my phone, just to distract myself. But I've learnt to recognize this pattern and quickly redirect my focus to God. I try to be transparent and share everything I'm feeling or struggling with, pouring out my heart honestly.
You may not always have all the right words. I know I don't! That's ok. Just show up with whatever you have.
Some days it might only just be tears and most times the process with him will feel like such a slow burn, but the comfort and solution he provides always feels better and lasts much longer than anything else you may have been prone to turn to. Know that in the grand scheme of things, we are much better for it in the long run.
It's difficult to cover everything about finding refuge in Him in this one post. We'll explore this topic further in future posts, but one crucial takeaway to note is that we are powerless against the dangers and temptations of this world when we rely on our own strength or worldly things. However, God promises to give us sufficient grace, especially when we are at our weakest (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). All we need to do is come to Him.
Imagine how different your life would be if you truly understood how Jesus views and loves you, regardless of your actions, how others treat you, or even how you perceive yourself. Consider how he's willing to assist you and demonstrate his love and kindness to you (Isaiah 30:18). How would you live differently? How would you interact with him? What choices would you make in response to a world that continuously imposes its expectations and standards upon you?
When you realize the depth of Jesus's unconditional love for you, you can find peace in him in the midst of chaos, comfort in times of distress, and hope in moments of despair. Knowing that Jesus is for you no matter what, empowers you to face challenges and overcome obstacles with confidence. This understanding changes the way we approach our lives. Rather than feeling shame or guilt for our mistakes, we can approach him with honesty and vulnerability, knowing that he understands where we are and desires to see us through. In a world that often values success, wealth, and popularity, we can trust that he has the best plan for our lives, and that he will guide us every step of the way, affording us the courage to choose to live and build differently!
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