Sanctuary

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.”

— Psalm 119:114

There are times when the world feels anything but safe for LGBTQ+ Christians. Many of us know what it means to hide — to keep silent about who we are because honesty might cost us family, friendship, or even faith community. And yet, the psalmist reminds us that God Himself is our sanctuary. This is not a hiding born of fear, but of peace — the holy refuge we can return to when there is no other refuge, the quiet assurance that we are known and loved completely. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). When others turn away, God remains steadfast.

When the world’s judgment feels loud, God becomes our shield — not only against the cruelty of others, but against the doubts that creep in from within. His word offers hope, not condemnation. The same God who made us in love still stands guard over our hearts. “Do not fear, for I am with you,” God says in Isaiah 41:10, reminding us that His presence never falters, even when human acceptance does.

I was reminded of this recently when some cousins from Alabama came to visit. They asked where I attended church in Vermont, and I explained that while there are very few Churches of Christ here, I’ve found it difficult to feel at home in any of them. The ones I tried were friendly, but very different from what I knew. So I told them, truthfully, that I do my own devotionals. I didn’t mention that those reflections have reached readers across the world. I simply said that I keep my faith alive in my own way.

Because I believe that God does not require a building or a pulpit to meet us. He asks only that we carry Him in our hearts. For some, a church building is a sanctuary. For others — especially those who have been told they don’t belong — sanctuary is found in quiet prayer, in Scripture, or even in writing words of faith to share with others. Whether we find that stillness in a sanctuary of stone or in the sanctuary of solitude, God is present all the same.

Whether you are in the closet or proudly out, whether you sit in a pew every Sunday or commune with God on a mountaintop, remember this: you have a refuge. You have a shield. You have hope.

God has not forgotten you — He has made Himself your sanctuary.

May we never mistake the world’s rejection for God’s absence. His sanctuary is not limited to four walls or a congregation, but open to all who seek Him with honesty and love. When faith feels lonely, may we rest in the promise that God is both our strength and our shelter — a very present help in every moment of need.