Nest in the Depths of God

“Storms have no strength to upset [souls filled with God] even slightly, because there is no strength that can defy God. As the soul detects the storm, she puts the virtues in order, and goes to nest in the inmost depths of God. So, while externally there seems to be a storm, it is completely false – it is then that the soul enjoys more peace, and rests, tranquil, in the bosom of God, just like the fish in the bosom of the sea.” – Jesus to Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta

We sure are weathering some storms presently; in our nation, our world, our Church, and perhaps in your own personal life. Let us drop our anchors deeply in God; more deeply than we’ve ever gone before. Let us experience for ourselves this peace, rest and tranquility found in the bosom of God, of which Jesus speaks.

I believe, my sisters, that it is possible to live deeply anchored in God’s peace and interior steadiness, even in the midst of uncertainty, adversity, traumatic world events, traumatic personal events. We are each an abode for our Lord. “Abide in Me and I in you,” Jesus says (ref John 15:4), and the specific place He has chosen to make His abode within each of us, is our hearts. In Ephesians, Paul teaches that “Christ will make his home in your hearts, and you are being rooted and grounded in love” (Eph 3:17).

Visualize that. Visualize your heart, with roots growing down from it, grounding your heart deeply and firmly in the soil of God’s Love. Let’s take a moment together to experience His abiding presence in the heart of our hearts and “go to nest” there in Him.

Slowly, take a deep breath in and out. Do it again. As you breathe, let your body relax into your chair, soften the muscles in your face, your neck and shoulders. Keep breathing. Draw your awareness to your heart. In particular, to your heartbeat. Place your hand on your heart if that’s helpful. Feel the beating of your own heart.

Our Lord wants us to realize that this is Him…that slow, steady, predictable rhythm at the center of our beings. This is Jesus. He is always there, ever present, ever quiet. This is Jesus, present within even when we take our hand away or turn our thoughts to something else. He is always there and He desires for us to return to Him again and again! He longs for us to visit Him in His chosen abode often, at any moment. It’s just a matter of shifting our focus – away from the outer world and onto Jesus within.

The secret to living more freely, even in the midst – especially in the midst – of exterior noise and chaos, is to get really good at entering in to the heart of our own hearts, and resting (nesting) in our Lord there. This is what He desires! He desires deep communion and interior union with each one of us. O Jesus, that the pull of Your life in us would be stronger and more powerful than the pull of anything happening exteriorly! Make it so Lord!

After a nesting break with the Lord, as we become present once again to the realities of our daily responsibilities, let us keep a little piece of our hearts at home with the Lord. Let us be intentional to reserve a little bit of ourselves always for Jesus. We don’t put ourselves too fully into anything out here in our temporal existence (except when we’re at Mass). Nothing else of this world do we give ourselves to entirely. This is how we live in the world without becoming of the world. This world is not our home. We were created for eternity and we have an eternal home, but we don’t have to wait until heaven to become more familiar with our True home. We have a piece of eternity with us, dwelling in us, right here right now. His name is Jesus.

During this Holy Week, I invite you to listen to this guided meditation and spend a few minutes exploring your inner abode with the Lord. Let us go to nest in His inmost depths and allow a piece of ourselves to remain there with Him always.

Closing Prayer

Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank you for choosing my heart! I pray that You would give me a very real and very personal encounter with You today. Grant me the grace to take short pauses throughout the day, place my hand on my heart and return to You and Your loving presence within me. Teach me Lord, teach me to enter into the quiet with You even in the midst of my busy and often noisy life. This is my desire! Teach me to nest in Your inmost depths, riding out the storms in my life from within the peace of Your bosom. Amen.

God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. – Psalm 46:5

Copyright 2022, De Yarrison