08/28/2026
A Devotion on Psalm 84: Feeling Homesick
When I was growing up, I got homesick a lot. In high school, I went to a boarding school, and then I went off to college 6 hours away from my home. It seemed like hardly a week went by when I didn’t miss home. I wanted my own bed, home-cooked meals, family conversations, and the comfort of a familiar and safe place.
Maybe you’ve felt that too. As the semester starts up, some of you might be missing home and the time spent with family and friends. Others might feel the opposite. You might be excited to be back because college feels more like home than home does…
Homesickness isn’t just about missing a location; it’s about missing a sense of belonging and the comfort that comes with it. And in some ways, all of us experience a deeper homesickness that nothing in this world can satisfy. As Christians, we long for a home we haven’t even been to yet. We are longing for our eternal home with God. We long to be with our Savior face to face. And until we get there, God gives us glimpses of that home to satisfy us and keep us going.
Psalm 84 is a psalm of homesickness. The writer longs to be in God’s house, in His presence, but for some reason, he isn’t able to be there. He writes: “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord” (Psalm 84:1-2).
Why such a deep desire to be in the house of the Lord? The psalmist gives two reasons: 1) Because it’s the source of a believer’s strength. 2) Because being in God’s presence is better than anything else this world can offer.
For the Israelites, worship wasn’t as simple as driving ten minutes to church. There was only one temple, in Jerusalem. Many had to travel for days through difficult terrain just to worship there. Psalm 84 talks about passing through the “Valley of Baca” in order to get to the Lord’s house. Baca means a dry and desolate place. And yet, as you read through the rest of Psalm 84, even in those desolate places, the Lord provided refreshment. Every stop became a place of springs and pools. God gave them the strength to keep going.
We’re on a journey too. We travel through the dry wilderness of this sinful world, traveling toward our Father’s house. And just like the Israelites, God gives us oases along the way.
Think of a long road trip. Maybe you’ve driven through Nebraska (no offense to Nebraskans!). The miles feel endless, but when you finally see a rest stop, it’s like the best sight in the world. You stretch, grab a snack, refill on caffeine, and you’re ready to keep going. That’s what God’s church is for us today. It’s God’s rest stop along the road. Here we get to lay down our sins, receive forgiveness, be re-energized by His Spirit, and strengthened by His Word.
We need those rest stops! Life can feel like one long stretch of highway with no exit. You’ve got classes, deadlines, tests, jobs, sports, relationships, and all the questions about what comes next in life. It’s easy to feel worn out and anxious. Our lives can quickly become a “Valley of Baca.” That’s why the Lord gives us His Word and His Church. It’s where He refuels us when the tank feels empty. It’s where He assures us that we’re forgiven when guilt weighs us down. It’s where He reminds us that no matter how uncertain the future feels, our final destination is secure.
Maybe for you, those “little oases” look like a Thursday night meal with Christian friends. Or the quiet moments in the morning when you read Scripture and pray before the day takes off. Or sitting in church on a Sunday, singing words that have been sung for centuries and realizing you’re not alone. You’re part of something bigger than yourself. Don't pass these rest stops by!
All of these are small tastes of what’s ahead. Because one day, the journey will end. One day, the homesickness will end. We’ll be home with the Lord forever. And that home will be better than anything we’ve ever known. As the psalmist says: “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked” (Psalm 84:10). That’s the hope that sustains us. That’s why we long for God’s house. Because it’s not just a building. It’s a glimpse of our home with Him.
