Coziness or Engagement?
- Anna-Lisa Hunter
- Jan 22
- 2 min read
In Denmark, there is a word, "hygge", that means something like "coziness." It is a culture of creating a warm and cozy home life, where people feel safe and relaxed and comfortable. Many websites and influencers today refer to hygge and encourage American consumers to create a cozy home environment.
In the dark days of January, when it is so cold, a hygge home is wonderful to return to each day. Warm blankets, crackling fireplaces - either real or on the TV, hot coffee and tea, and friends and family nearby. It's nice to close the door on the dark and cold and warm up and relax inside.
But... when should we engage with what is going on outside? When do we take action to make sure everyone has warm shelter and food on bitterly cold nights? When do we leave our homes to make sure neighbors are safe?
The Israelites were often reminded by God's prophets that God wanted them to build a community that provided coziness for everyone - even widows and orphans and strangers and foreigners. The prophet Micah was talking to a group of believers who focused on providing amazing worship to God, but Micah reminded them that God wanted them to be living lives of justice and loving kindness, and walking humbly with God. Not only focused on extravagant worship and legalistic rule-following.
We are also reminded in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a time for all things under heaven. There are times in our lives when we are recovering from illness or trying to restore our souls after a stressful event in our families or workplaces. Sometimes we need the cozy times at home to heal and renew.
Other times, God calls us to step out and engage in the hard work of justice and mercy in our communities. Making sure neighbors can get to medical appointments and pick up groceries. Providing voice to those who are powerless.
Each of us gets to take time in prayer to hear God's voice and see how God wants us personally to walk humbly with God in our lives and communities. Each of us has a different journey to walk with Jesus. We need to make sure that when we are cozy and warm at home, we are there with God, and renewing ourselves for the next task God is preparing us to engage with. And when we step outside, we need to go with God, to bring justice and mercy to a troubled world.
We can always have a cozy heart when Jesus is the focus of our lives, whether we are snuggled warm at home, or laboring with neighbors to meet local needs. I encourage each of us to be in prayer, so we can engage when God wants us to engage. Amen.
Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter
January 22, 2026
Resources:
Poverty & Justice Bible
