There's No Place Like Home

By Rebecca Gonzalez

Ask five people what the word “home” means and you’ll probably get five totally different answers. According to Merriam-Webster, home is defined as someone’s place of residence, or the social unit formed by a family living together. Those were just the first two of six entries listed. Maybe you’re a little like me, and quotes that perfectly (and sometimes rather poetically) sum up what something means really resonate with you.

“Home is where the heart is.” Pliny the Elder
“Home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling.” Cecelia Ahern
“There’s no place like home.” L. Frank Baum

As a word nerd, I often turn to dictionary definitions and catchy quotes to fully grasp a word’s meaning. As a woman of faith, I turn to the Word to see if God has anything to say about any words I’m wondering about. As I type “What does the Bible have to say about home?” a list of one hundred scripture references appears.

“He gives the barren woman a home.” Psalm 113:9 ESV
“A house is built by wisdom.” Proverbs 24:3 CSB
“There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home.” John 14:2 MSG

One hundred references is a long list to sift through, so my eyes keep scrolling and skimming.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Psalm 91:1-2 ESV.

I’m nudged to linger here for just a little bit, staring at familiar words I’ve read a time or two before. And then it hits me. A sort of full-circle heavenly word association mashup of definitions and quotes infused with the whispers of the Spirit.

Where I dwell is where I live. My place of residence. That goes for my body, but also for my mind, soul, spirit, and heart. Where my heart dwells is where I live too.

My heart of stone has been turned to flesh. My home is no longer limited to a place, although there are certainly physical locations on this side of eternity that feel most like a refuge. But wherever I find myself dwelling in the shelter that only the Most High can provide, then that is my home. And that home is the epitome of “location, location, location.” The shadow of the Almighty. So much more than just a feeling. There’s no place quite like it. *cue three clicks from those shimmering red slippers.

Rebecca Gonzalez

Becky Gonzalez is a hopeful encourager and freedom fighter who loves to write about how God uses the grit and grace of life to grow us beautifully. She is a wife and mom to three, along with their rescue dog, Riley.

You can connect with Becky on Instagram at @_beckygonzalez and Twitter at @_beckygonzalez.