Like a Hippo in Water: Finding Stillness for the Soul

Reflection is the key to understanding the soul.

After returning from Kenya, one unexpected moment stayed with me—watching a hippo in the water.

These massive creatures, half-submerged with only their ears and eyes visible, somehow seemed completely at peace in their environment.
They belonged there. They moved freely. They were home.

Longing to Belong

In that moment, I realized something:
I want to feel what the hippo feels in the water.
I want to feel at home in my soul.

In the Masai Mara, all the animals seem to know where they belong. They roam with confidence. They migrate with instinct.
They don’t question if provision will come—it just does.
God feeds them. God moves them. God shelters them.

And I wondered:
Why don’t I trust God like that?

Stillness in the Chaos

On this trip, I became aware of how little stillness I’ve allowed in my life.
I’ve made decisions that invited chaos more than peace.
And yet, I long for that quiet soul-rest—that still water where I can just belong.

“Do I see the arms of the Lord holding me?”
“Or am I just grappling for Him to hold me still?”

For nine years, I’ve prayed this same prayer:
Lord, still me. Give my soul a home in You.

But I also realized this:
It’s not something I can create.
Stillness is something I must receive.

The Question That Won’t Let Go

For weeks now, I’ve carried a quiet question:

“Where is the water that makes me feel like a hippo in it?”
Where is that place where I move freely, with the instincts He gave me?
Where does my soul feel like it belongs?

I’m not trying to escape difficult environments—but I’m asking God to guide me toward ones where I can fully serve, rest, and trust.
Where the purpose is aligned.
Where I no longer strive.
Where I know—like the hippo—that I’m home.