At our house, thunderstorms equal slumber parties.

Recently during one particularly nasty storm, I heard little feet running quickly through the living room and knew my little girl was in a hurry to be with me. I quickly lifted up the covers, and Lauren jumped in and grabbed hold of me. When she stopped shaking and started breathing deeply, I gathered her sleeping bag and stuffed animals to make up a makeshift bed on the floor near me. A little while later, thunder shook the house and Jackson appeared. A quick glance at the radar on my phone let me know this storm was going to be raging through the night, so I made him a spot on the floor in our room, too.

For whatever reason, the kids always appear on my side of the bed when thunder rolls. Or when they have a bad dream. Or when they wake up for whatever reason!

When they are scared, they come to me.

I am their safe place.

A few minutes after our family sleepover was underway, both my phone and my husband’s phone emergency alarms went off, and scared us all. Matt jumped up thinking we were under a tornado watch and tripped right over my son’s makeshift bed. Though we were just under a flood watch, at this point in the night, we were definitely all wide awake! We laid back down, and did our best to fall asleep as the lightning flashed around our house.

It was then that I heard my son start to pray.

He wasn’t praying to be heard, but I couldn’t help to listen and echo his words in my heart. Jackson was simply talking to his Heavenly Father, asking for God to keep us all safe in the midst of the bad storm and for us to be able to get the rest we needed.

God is his safe place.

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
– Psalm 4:8

When I am scared, when I am unsure, when I begin to worry or when I don’t know what to do, God tells me to run to Him. He doesn’t want me to delay. Whether it is lunchtime or three in the morning, God longs for me to come to Him. He is the only One who can surround me with peace and keep me safe. He alone can quiet my soul and give me the rest I desperately need.

He is my safe place.