Discussion #4 and #5 - Seeking Refuge

Hello everyone! Two Sundays ago, we discussed the topic "Seeking Refuge." We asked ourselves about the people, places, or things that we use to find that refuge. Many of us mentioned using time in the wilderness or simply resting after a lot of work or chaos. My husband liked to call it the "holidaze" for many of us after the Christmas and New Year season. We discussed whether or not our homes or even ourselves were a place of refuge for those seeking guidance, comfort, empathy, or love.

Jesus specifically asks us to use Him as a refuge in the Bible. Matthew 11:28-29 says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." By using Jesus as a safe place to regenerate our bodies, minds, and souls, we can then aid those around us in the same manner.

This Sunday we delved a little further into seeking refuge by thinking about some of our most difficult times in our lives. We asked ourselves whether we felt closer or farther away from God during those times. The majority of us felt like we were distance to God, but we all agreed that it was because of us and not because of Him. One listener said that "He [God] never goes silent. He speaks the same to everyone. We just may not be in a place where we are listening to his words." Another listener said that God may be using a parenting method. Instead of continuing to argue with us, He chooses to wait rather than forcing the issue. I often tell my 3 year old son, "I'll wait" whenever he is choosing to talk over me or ignore my advice.

This prompted us to think about those who seem to hear His voice better than others. To many of us, it feels like the older generations in the church appear to be better at paying attention, but they have had more time and experiences to help them attune to God and His ways. We talked about ways that we can get better at focusing on God's voice/Holy Spirit. One person mentioned Wesleyan's quadrilateral, saying that you need all four categories to be successful (tradition, scripture, experiences, and reason). Another said that we need to work on our interpersonal relationships just like Jesus did during his time on Earth.

Do you have any thoughts about seeking refuge or hearing God's voice? Let us know in the comment section below!