Copyright © 2026 Women of the ELCA. Reprint permission is granted for use in Women of the ELCA units, clusters/conferences and synodical women’s organizations provided each post is reproduced in its entirety. If you enjoy this resource, Donate Now.
Sanctuary can look different for different people of different circumstances. Sometimes we look for sanctuary because we’re thirsty, hungry or in need of healing. In a spiritual desert, we may not know what to expect, who to trust or how our needs will be met. We may be wandering in a wilderness of grief, one where we wake up brokenhearted and go to bed empty because when we look at our family tree, a loved one is missing. Or perhaps we are facing a drought of fear, where we feel God’s urging to put our faith in action, but worry and doubt render us immobile. Or we could be trapped in a valley of bitterness, carrying deep grudges and resentments year after year. We’re not even sure how it happened. We used to be kind, loving and generous. But over time, we’ve become isolated, sullen, even hateful. Yet even now, Jesus Christ is at work.
When we are seeking sanctuary, feeling disoriented by confusing times, it helps to know that wherever we go, God’s abiding presence is already there.
This message is excerpted from “Feeling lost?” by Angela !Khabeb in the September/October 2023 Gather magazine.