What Loneliness Can Teach Us about God
Safe with Jesus
I was sitting in my church's Blessed Sacrament chapel one evening and I thought to myself: I feel so safe here. I don't want to leave.
God gave me a beautiful line in a meditation that day, "In this moment, you are safe and cherished."
He knows how unsafe I feel in the world.
These days, Adoration chapels are the only places I feel safe. I feel safe from harm. I feel safe from hurtful words and actions. I feel safe from manipulation. I feel safe from people I can't trust.
I can breathe easy. I don't shake. I don't feel stress. I don't quiver inside. I don't fear.
It's just me and Jesus. That's it. No one else. It's a refuge.
No one can harm me. No one can take away anything from me. No one can reject me. No one can make me feel unloved or uncared for. No one can make me feel pain. No one can withhold affection and kindness, and cause my heart to hurt.
Because I am enfolded in His love in this place. I am guarded and protected. He encircles me with love.
Safe in His arms. Safe in His embrace.
Please give me the grace to stay in that safe place forever, if only in my heart.
About the Author
Katie Zalany lives in Cleveland Ohio. She is a Third Order Secular Franciscan (OFS), spiritual director, benefits/wellness leader, and certified health and life coach. She volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul Society serving the poor, is an active mentor to many individuals, and a prolific writer. Her writing interests and focus areas include spiritual development, reflections on the Gospel life, Franciscian spirituality, prayer, and integration of faith and work/daily living. She is the published author of Called to Corporate: Lessons of Growing in Faith and Holiness from the Corporate Cubicle.
