Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
David, in Psalm 91:1
The secret place of God is so completely governed by the peace of God that it provides us with rest even from regret. Nothing is allowed into the secret place of God that disturbs the peace. Safe under His mighty shadow, we can view our past, with all its errors and failures, and yet not be tormented by regret. Yes, we can wish things had been different, that we had been stronger, that we had been better; but those thoughts can no longer vex our souls or steal our deep peace because . . . well, because we are in God’s secret place, where vexation does not exist.
Whatever shameful and hurtful situations we passed on our way to Jesus, we know that God still wanted us. And in God’s secret place, we understand that He has us, and we are content with that, as He is. We may occasionally look back at the way we were, and the way others were, but it will only be with gratitude that we are now where we are. Whatever we were before Jesus brought us into his peace, we were, which means that we are not that way now. And in God’s secret place, we know that we will never be that again. And we can regret the evils of our past completely, but we cannot be tormented by that regret if, in the end, we find ourselves in the secret place of God’s mighty peace, under the shadow of His wings.