My Refuge, My Home, Alice Chen

The day was long and exhausting, and all I wanted to do was collapse into bed and fall into a deep slumber. Piles of homework awaited my undivided attention, but as I drove away from the University of Texas campus, I could not bring myself to go straight home and do work or sleep. There was a great spiritual dryness within me. I felt so empty inside. I knew that the only way to eliminate my dry, empty feelings was to contact Christ. However, being weak, I could not do so on my own. I needed the help and encouragement of other Christian believers. Therefore, I didn't exit the street that led home. Rather, I chose to drive my tired body to the home of a dear Christian family. I had met this family in the local church in Austin. They regularly and warmly opened their home to college students like myself with the sole purpose of enjoying the Lord with us.

As I approached their home, I felt drier and emptier than before. However, once I entered the home, a cherishing atmosphere of love and joy greeted me. We ate a delicious dinner and following this was a time of singing and enjoyment in the Scriptures. Sitting on their comfortable sofa, I inwardly glowed with happiness and satisfaction. Being in the midst of genuine believers was such a salvation to me. Nothing extraordinary or awesome occurred in this blessed home that night, but God did supply me with His nourishing love through these dear believers in the local church. By opening up their home, hearts, and even their refrigerator, they took care of me--an exhausted and stressed-out college student. Their gracious love and care extended beyond meeting my physical needs, helping me to be spiritually revived and renewed in my love to the Lord. I praise the Lord for this family and the many others like them in the local churches who labor in love for their fellow believers in Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Needless to say, I drove home with a contented smile on my face. My needs had been met through an enjoyable time in the home of true believers. No longer did I feel the dry, empty feeling inside, rather, I was flowing with joy and peace. Throughout my college years I frequented homes like this one, and they became my refuge from the pressures of school and life in general. In the homes of these Christians, I was always supplied with Christ as my enjoyment and found true joy, rest, and satisfaction. By the time I graduated from college, I could honestly say that I considered many of these homes as my own, for the families in them were in my heart as much as I was in theirs.