Soul Scientist

Have you ever heard the phrase, “With you is my favorite place to be?”

I see that phrase every morning on the wall in our bathroom. It’s always a good reminder that being with my husband is indeed my favorite place to be. Thirty-four years and counting with this good man is a good gift from my Good God, the Giver of all good gifts (see Matthew 7:11).

Being with my husband on the family farm is a touch of heaven for me (and for him when he’s hearing or watching our resident coveys of quail and killdeer.) Yet even that isn’t enough to fill that empty ache inside me of the not-yet and hopefully-coming-soon of my Jesus’ return to earth in all His glorious majesty.

The Apostle John, CeCe Winans, many others, and I have all lived that bittersweet juxtaposition of rejoicing in this is the day our God has made alongside the deep yearning for “Amen! Come, Jesus, come” (see Psalm 118:24 and Revelation 22:20). Walking the fields and forest of our farm while talking with my Jesus is the only thing I’ve found to somewhat slake that thirst for the exceedingly more of eternity with my Jesus.

Because when I’m walking and talking with my Jesus, He tells me He is always with me, no matter where I am or what I’ve done. He renews me in truth while He refreshes me in tenderness. He restores my soul while reminding me that He’s redeemed me for forever. (Thank You, Jesus, for all of this and more!)

Jesus stoops to lift my head, listen to my heart, and lead me home to Him. A heavenly home He’s now preparing for His own as He pleads for us to come (see 2 Peter 3:9).

With God – that’s the home where I can rest and reside in His grace, mercy, and love today and every day to come. With God – that’s my true home here on earth and in heaven one day.

God gently reminds me that with Him should be my favorite place to be.

Scripture tells me God is always there for, with, and in me. And Scripture repeatedly tells me He’s with me in happy and hard, in triumphs and temptations, in pain and peace, in sorrow and salvation, in gladness and grief.

There’s nowhere I can be that God isn’t already there (see Psalm 139:8).

God gave everything for me at Calvary years ago (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).

God gives everything to me here today (see John 3:16-17).

In other words, God calls me to know and believe my home is with Him wherever He calls me to go (see Jeremiah chapter 4). For with God – I have everything necessary (see Psalms 34:10 and 23:1). And with God – I can know the superabundant sweetness of being cherished, chosen, and called.

Psalm chapter 23 tells me God is always with me and I will dwell with God forever in His house. Psalm chapter 46 tells me that God knows everything and holds me fast in everything, too. Along with Psalm chapter 34 and many other places in Scripture, I’m told my Good God has good for me as He guides me through another day closer to heaven.

God is good and makes all for good for those who love Him and are called for His purpose (see Romans 8:28). He redeems even those days heavy with pain that seem to be the furthest thing from heaven or home or hope.

But, I know this truth deep inside, planted there in the soil of my soul next to that unquenchable yearning for home and heaven. The truth that nothing can come between God, His love, and me. And that nothing includes death, destruction, or disappointment, time, trial, or trouble, place, people, or position, and everything else in all of creation.

Romans 8:38-39 GNT For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come!

Written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2025.