Home Sweet Home

They say when one door closes, another one opens. But I believe sometimes there is a hallway—a time of growth, a grace period—before you find the new door. That hallway can seem endless. It can feel like you are in limbo, not making progress, like you will never get passed this stepping stone. Maybe you are waiting for your miracle, your prayers to be answered, your breakthrough.

Friends, the good news is that God meets us in the hallway. We walk in our own time, but we are not alone. In this time of waiting or yearning, we can keep learning, leaning in to God and inching closer towards His will for us. If you are waiting for your miracle—for the puzzle pieces to finally connect—I can assure you that it will happen. I know this because God is sovereign and all things work for good. One day, you will get there, and you will be home. I am forever homesick for Heaven. But until then, I can adorn the hallway.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21

“The world is thy ship, not thy home.” - St. Therese of Lisieux

Beautiful Ruins

Sometimes, it can be hard for us to know what next step to take, or how to take it. When the rug is pulled out from under us, we can feel defeated and lost, unsure of how to start over. We know it can only take one curveball in the window to shatter your life into what feels like a million pieces. And it only takes one crack in the foundation, one loose nail in the wall, to cause a collapse. You may be left looking at a pile of rubble and ruins, and it may feel like total devastation.

We can’t help when certain situations or occurrences come our way. We may wrestle with the how’s and why’s. We may feel the walls caving in, weighing down on us, and we may be broken down to ruins and ashes. At that time, we must see the opportunity before us—that every beam of suffering allows you to lean in closer to Him. Remember that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). It is in this time of brokenness where we need to focus on Jesus and let Him devastate us with His love to make room for the new.

First, we must complete the task of demolishing what hinders us from the Lord. Break down the walls that separate you from Him—the walls of sin, lukewarm faith, lack of trust, distraction, worry, or ungratefulness—and whatever is keeping you from a relationship with Him. All you have to do is ask Him. We have to remove what was, in order to create space for what will be. After all, you don’t want to carry old, heavy bricks into your new home.

Surely, beauty can come out of the ashes. You are right where God wants you. He knows your deepest dreams and He will come through, maybe in a way you didn’t expect, and whether in this life or the next. When times are tough, think back and hold on to the moments when you felt God closest to you. As I look back, it’s not just moments, but it’s my entire lifetime, where God was present in all of my experiences. My loving Father never left my side, and He always had a plan. We each have a unique blueprint, a grand design. All God asks of us is to remain faithful to Him always, in the good and through the bad.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11

A Firm Foundation

“Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.” (Proverbs 24:27)

The process of starting over can be overwhelming. You may not know where to begin. Ask God for the courage to shift your energy into rebuilding something new. We cannot be afraid to take that risk to rebuild, brick by brick, one day at a time.

We know the strength of a building lies in its foundation. To build on a firm foundation in Christ, we must first recognize that He’s already given us the pieces. We simply have to use them. He has given us His very self—His Presence—through His Word, His Sacraments, His people, His creation. Though the full vision may be unknown, we must trust God as the architect of that vision. We must allow Him in and give him space to work in our lives. It takes teamwork—Jesus will hold the ladder if you climb; He will hold the nail still if you hammer. You can trust Him to give you the right blueprints and the directions to get home.

“For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.” –Hebrews 3:4

Storms of life and winds of change are inevitable. How are you preparing for a storm in your life? The answer is simple. Create a permanent room for Him in your heart. Make your home a place where God can dwell. Invite Him in with open arms and ask Him to make Himself at home. Choose to live a Christ-centered life, a life of purpose. Build walls with His Word to give you a strong fortress to stand against evil seeping in. Immerse yourself in the virtues and fruits of the spirit. A firm foundation of prayer and relationship with the Lord will build your home on solid ground. Lead your family in Truth. Pray together. Let God’s grace strengthen your hearts with perseverance so that wind, rain and fire cannot penetrate or destroy your shelter. Trust that you can stand firm on the walls God has built. A structure cemented in Him can never fall down.

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” – 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

“Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.” – Mother Teresa

They say home is where the heart is, where your treasure lies. Jesus told Saint Faustina, “Your heart is my Heaven.” We are His treasure; we are His home. May we glorify Him in every single thing we do, fully integrating our lives with His will. Until we reach our heavenly home, may our home be living out God’s will for us, living out our faith each day.

“The rain came down, the streams rose, the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” – Matthew 7:25

Settling In

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” – Proverbs 24:3-4

When you find the courage to rebuild with God by your side, your heart finds a safe place to land—a place of consolation. It feels like a waterfall of peace, enveloped in God’s grace. Where mercy, grace and unconditional love are hung on the walls, and prayer unlocks the doors. Where there is no fear, love abounds, and laughter and blessings emerge despite adversity and struggle. Where God’s song plays, and you can dance in a free space. It's where we are encouraged and safe, and where there is breeding ground for love to grow.

When your prayers are answered, you wonder how or why you ever doubted Him. It’s that feeling when something or someone makes you forget about everything that came before—when you can finally see and understand why you went through the dark hallway. And suddenly, there’s sunlight beaming in, and a perfect breeze through the windows, reflecting God in every vibrant color. It’s knowing you are right where you belong, where you are going, and how you will get there. It is where your soul is loved and understood—when the only thing better is Heaven itself. These glimpses of Heaven give us hope. And when we hope, we hope with certainty. Because God will always come through. He gives us more than we could dream of. And we are all just walking each other home.

“Home is any four walls that enclose the right person.” – Helen Rowland

I believe that one day we will see how all of our lives connect, how our choices shaped the world. We will understand how the fruit of all of our decisions—each big or small choice in our lives— laid a new brick in the structure of the world. And how our experiences have formed us into who we are. God is leading all things to their perfection, including us.

In a time of adversity, I was told by a wise friend that God would reward me for my faithfulness. I knew God would deliver more than I could imagine, but I had no idea it would be this good. And all I can think is—it’s good to be home.

Lord, search our hearts and make them your home. Let everything we do open up a door for You to work. Give us courage to rebuild in Your love and truth. Help us to hope with confidence in your divine providence. Save a special home for us in heaven. You are our treasure. Amen.

“Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere.” – Psalm 84:10