I keep my one-year-old grandson daily, and recently I noticed something interesting happening. We would be playing—building blocks, singing, reading a book—and then, as he got comfortable, he would wander off from me a few feet to explore, push the cars or build on his own. And then, suddenly, he would turn and run and throw himself straight into my arms for a hug.

This happened over and over again. Play. Explore. Return. Hug. Repeat.

Curious, I looked it up and learned that this is a well-known developmental pattern often referred to as a schema—sometimes called “secure base behavior.” As little ones learn new things, master new skills, fall down, fail, get overstimulated, or feel overwhelmed, they instinctively return to their safe base. Their safe base is the person they trust most—the one who brings comfort, regulation, reassurance, and joy. Sometimes they return to celebrate. Sometimes they return to be soothed. Sometimes they return simply to reset before heading back out again.

Watching my grandson, I couldn’t help but think: This is us and Jesus. He is our safe base.

From the beginning of time, God has designed us not for independence, but for secure attachment. Scripture tells us again and again that God is not merely a distant authority figure—we are invited to run to Him.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1

A refuge is not a place you visit once. It’s a place you return to again and again.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10

Notice the word run. When we are overwhelmed… we run. When we are afraid… we run. When we are joyful… we run. When we are weary… we run. And like my grandson and me, Jesus finds immense joy in us running to Him. Every time I think of this running, I picture the father of the prodigal son. He was waiting for his son, and when he saw him coming, he ran to meet him with arms open wide. How great the Father’s love for us is.

Several years ago, I lost my own mother. And while grief comes in waves and layers, one of the deepest losses has been the loss of my safe base. I called her nearly every day. She was the one I ran to with good news and hard news. She was my comfort, my sounding board, my steady presence. When she was gone, the world felt lonelier and less secure.

And yet—if I am honest—I cannot imagine how unbearable that loss would have been if I did not have Jesus. He tells us in the Psalm that He draws near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. He always keeps His word.

Jesus stepped into the space where my earthly safe base once stood. Not as a replacement that erased the pain, but as a faithful presence who carried me through it.

This idea of God as a safe, hovering presence did not begin in the New Testament. It has been the heart of God from the very beginning.

“Now the earth was formless and empty… and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:2

I recently heard from a dear friend that the word hovering here carries the imagery of a mother bird—like a hen hovering protectively over her chicks. Before creation took shape, God was already covering, guarding, and nurturing. This is not the only place we see this imagery in scripture:

“How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” Matthew 23:37

 “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” Psalm 91:4

This has always been God’s posture toward His people. Just as children are not hesitant to return to the one they trust, we should just as readily return to Jesus all day, again and again. His invitation is clear:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Are you weary and burdened? Are you joyful and celebrating? Are you overstimulated and exhausted? Are you mad at Him? Run to Him for that deep rest and peace that can ONLY be found in Him.

 He is there, waiting with open arms to rejoice with you, comfort you, hold you, restore you, forgive you. Over and over and over again.

Ardently His,

Jenifer

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