It was 11 p.m. Upstairs and just moments before turning in for the night, I tapped into the Ring camera outside my front door. What I saw stopped me for a moment.
Through the windows, the inside of my home glowed warmly—calm, quiet, and secure. But outside was a different story. Violent winds and blowing snow tore across the screen, flashing past the camera like a furious lightning storm. I could have been alarmed, but I wasn’t. Inside, all was peaceful.
Life is often like that.
Over the holidays while staying at my son’s home, we shared our words for the year. We laughed when we realized how different they were. Mine was “Rise.” His was “Rest.” Total opposites—or so it seemed. But as we explained the why behind our choices, something beautiful happened. Understanding replaced contrast, and respect replaced comparison.
What’s your word for the year? If you haven’t chosen one, you’re in good company. And, it’s never too late I was right there myself nine years ago. That was the year I realized I could intentionally choose a word—often paired with a Scripture—to guide me through both valleys and mountaintops. A word to give perspective. A word to offer direction. A word to anchor my heart.
This year, my word feels like a battle cry—much like soldiers shouting in unity before stepping into the fray. Not just to strengthen themselves, but to remind the enemy who they belong to.
My son describes “rest” as his 9-1-1 word. And for good reason. Psalm 91:1 promises, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” It’s a picture of divine protection—of safety and refuge for those who choose to make God their dwelling place.
But what if that shelter doesn’t just surround us? What if it lives within us? What if we become a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit—so rooted in Him that we carry peace wherever we go? What if, like that quiet glow inside my home, we become the calm while the world outside rages in chaos?
I had to smile when I learned Merriam-Webster’s word of the year was “slop,” chosen to reflect the frustration surrounding low-quality, AI-generated content flooding the internet. Not exactly an uplifting word. But there is a better word. A better longing.
The song “Dwelling Place” (feat. Mitch Wong and Mia Fieldes) beautifully captures that desire—to be a worthy resting place for the Spirit of God. It welcomes His presence and invites Him not just to visit, but to stay.
"A place for You to rest, a place for You to speak. For You to have Your way, make me a dwelling place. There’s room for You to move, room for You to breathe. Holy Spirit stay, make me a dwelling place."
If someone could “look inside” your heart during life’s fiercest storms, would they see chaos—or the quiet glow of God’s peace? What might it look like for you to become a living testimony of rest in a restless world?