Sanctuary.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me…

to comfort all who mourn,

to provide for those who mourn in Zion;

to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

festive oil instead of mourning,

and splendid clothes instead of despair.

~Isaiah 61:1a, 2b, 3a (CSB)

When you hear the word "sanctuary," what comes to mind?

I think of a place that is safe, special, quiet, warm, holy.

Sanctuary brings to mind old laws that allowed for immunity from arrest for a person who fled to a church.  Then there were the Jewish cities of refuge, which provided safe havens for individuals who unintentionally killed another person (see Joshua 20).

Synonyms for sanctuary include haven, refuge, shelter, and asylum.  These words make me think of places you run to when you are trying to escape something.

Where is your sanctuary?

My home is my sanctuary.  It is my safe place to return to every day.  It is warm, welcoming, and safe.  My parents’ home, my grandparents’ ranch – these places are sanctuaries for me.  Sometimes my sanctuary is my car or a nearby state park.  They provide an escape for me when I am overwhelmed by something going on in the world – either locally, nationally, or globally.  

When I am in my sanctuary, I can be myself without any masks or facades.  I can acknowledge the hard truths and find rest for my soul.  These are the places where I can meet with God, ask the hard questions, and receive comfort.  

Sanctuary is not always a place of isolation, though.  We can invite others into these safe, holy places.  We can share hurt and comfort, pain and healing.  Sanctuaries are places of truth, of healing, and of rest.  We grow most when we can share these things in relationships, in community.

What desires accompany sanctuary?

The need for sanctuary is a result of feeling unsafe or a desire to escape.  These may be physical, mental, or emotional needs that drive us to sanctuary.  Sanctuary accompanies a desire for rest, healing, and peace.  I think of the need for sanctuary as a respite from the brokenness in the world.  I long for wholeness and peace.  Ultimately, this is a longing for God.  

Isaiah 61 speaks of this longing.  Christ tells us in Luke 4 that He is the Spirit-filled, anointed one that Isaiah writes about in the first verse of Isaiah 61.  Jesus is the one who brings good news to the poor, heals the brokenhearted, proclaims liberty to captives, comforts those who mourn, gives a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair (Isa. 61: 1-3).  Jesus meets people in their deepest, most heartfelt longings; the poor, brokenhearted, captives, mourners, despairing, these all need sanctuary.  All need a place of rest and safety, comfort and healing.

We find our ultimate sanctuary in Christ.  

Sanctuary does not have to be a place, but if we try to put our need for sanctuary on anyone besides Christ, we will be sorely disappointed.  Humans are, after all, human.  We are all sinners in need of grace.  We cannot be each other's' saviors.  We cannot be another’s sanctuary.  

When our desires for sanctuary arise, consider who or what you are making your sanctuary.  Does your sanctuary bring you rest and peace?  Does your sanctuary refresh you and ready you to take on the world again and encourage you to be a light, reflecting the image of God to a broken world?  Are you relying on Christ to be your ultimate source of rest and peace?

……….

As part of our September Series, each post will have a challenge for you each week.  Drop a note in the comments or on Instagram @avmccoy20 to let me know how it goes.

Challenge for the Week:

How did you experience sanctuary this week?  If you decide to create a space for sanctuary, what did you do?  What did you learn about God while experiencing sanctuary?