Sit on the steps of your soul, in the deep place where nobody goes, and talk with Jesus. You can always go there, anytime, anyplace in the world.”
Jill Briscoe
If you never had a chance to hear Jill Briscoe speak, she has a knack for weaving a story like a comfy blanket and then wrapping you up in it. Recently, she told us about sitting on the front steps of her childhood home in England and talking with Jesus about whatever was on her heart. It was her place to go and be with Him, and even if she wasn’t physically there on those steps, in her mind she would return to the “steps of her soul, in the deep place where nobody goes, to talk with Jesus.”
My life often can feel chaotic and rushed either because of external factors beyond my control, or because I have let the urgent things take priority over the important things. It feels like my family ends up running in multiple directions while I try (somewhat unsuccessfully) to maintain some semblance of order. If this imbalance is left unchecked, my prayer life will also begin to reflect that same scattered disorganization. While my intention is to spend time daily basking in the light of Jesus love, reality starts to resemble a vague, distracted prayer for strength and for Jesus to take the wheel.
I think that is why Jill’s words echoed deep in the chambers of my heart. Something as simple as really stopping, even just for a moment, to sit with Jesus on the steps of my soul and be present in that moment felt revolutionary. The difficult part is being present and allowing Jesus access to the deep and vulnerable places my heart. Sometimes that is not always possible in certain situations. I’ll admit it can be hard to go there when kids are demanding my attention or the vulnerable places in my heart require more than a few brief moments.
But at some point in my day I can make a time to steal away, close my eyes and sit on the steps of my soul. Jesus is there, waiting for me to sit next to him and talk, always ready to act on my behalf. He comforts, strengthens and listens to me.
When we allow our Savior into our mess, when we go to meet him in prayer, suddenly we are not alone. We have a sanctuary in the madness, a quiet place in the midst of chaos and a friend when we need it the most.
So dear sister, today I invite you to “sit on the steps of your soul, in the deep place where nobody goes, and talk with Jesus. You can always go there, anytime, anyplace in the world.”
