Our Querencia 

In my favorite class in college, we discussed this concept, and I completely fell in love with it. The term was created from a situation that may seem ordinary, but the word itself represents a beautiful idea. The word “querencia” is a Spanish term relating to bullfighting; during the fight, a bull will gradually identify the spot where he feels safest and strongest. This is the spot where he’s the most dangerous, where he feels his back is against the wall.

But a querencia’s significance can stretch beyond bullfighting. In my college class, we were asked to write about our own querencia—the place where we feel safest and strongest. We defined it like this:

“A place where one feels safe, a place from which one’s strength of character is drawn; a place where one feels at home.”

Recently, I encountered this word again, and it struck me how much I want to find my querencia in the only One that matters—the Father. I’m not afraid to admit I’m not there yet. And that’s okay. We’re all consistently striving to be better and grow closer and closer to Him. Today, let’s talk about how we can call our Lord and Savior the place where we feel at home and strive to make Him our querencia.

The world we live in is constantly chaotic, dangerous, and full of unknowns—COVID-19 has shown us that clearly! I’ve always loved the song, “This World Is Not My Home.” It’s done well to remind me that while I work here as a servant of the Lord, my home is still yet to come, a place full of joy with no sadness or trouble.

There are many verses written about how the world is at odds with the Lord, but John 16:33 is one of my favorites. It says, “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” Jesus has overcome the world and the evil that resides in it, and He is the one we can find solace in. Our Father is loving and never-changing, and He longs for us to turn to Him.

Countless times in the bible, writers in the Old and New Testaments call God “faithful.” But what does this really mean? When I think of it applied to us as Christians, the phrase “constantly pursuing” comes to mind. In a way, we can apply this to the Father, except it’s magnified astronomically. God is our steadfast protector and provider Who has always loved and guided His children.

We read about many people who found their strength in God and His faithfulness, but the person who immediately comes to mind is David. Even in his darkest days, David consistently turned to the Lord for comfort and to praise Him. Some of the psalms he wrote about this begin with David crying out for help and describing the difficult situation he’s in, but he always ends his songs by recognizing God’s faithfulness. An example of this is in Psalm 13, which is titled “A Plea for Deliverance” in my bible. The last two verses read, “But I have trusted in your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because he has treated me generously.” David trusted God so much that he praised his deliverance before he had been delivered. If anyone could call God his querencia, it was David. Can you imagine what he’ll think about the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross? I can only imagine the awe and joy he will feel, along with the rest of the people of that day and age. Little did he know, the Father loves each and every one of us and has provided deliverance of us all—He’s the ultimate example of faithfulness.

Writers like Moses, the prophets, and Paul have all continuously praised the faithfulness of the Lord, but the cross was the place where this trait was brought into full focus. By giving Himself for us, He firmly stated that, “not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). He made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can escape our sins and the consequences that accompany them.

Let the place where we find rest and comfort be in the peace our Savior provides—let’s make Him our querencia. Let Jesus be the place where we feel safe, the place from which our character is drawn—the place where we feel at home.

“The man who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed.

He will be like a tree planted by water:

it sends its roots out toward a stream,

it doesn’t fear when heat comes,

and its foliage remains green.

It will not worry in a year of drought

or cease producing fruit.”

– Jeremiah 17:7-8