When I was young and living through the ’50s and well into the ’60s…
I never thought about living in a continual danger mode. Where we lived, and the times we were in, all was fairly safe. Innocuous. We would go to the country. Never worried about dangers except for the trouble we got into of our own doing. BB Guns. Pocket knives. Swimming holes. Sharpened sticks. Rope swings over waters that often contained snakes, and running through the woods with no thought of dangerous places…
This was life at home. Home, for most people, was always a safe place. Locked doors. Food. Comfort. Family. Protection.
Later…much later…as a parent, I started thinking about safe places for my kids. We lived in Alaska and Texas. I never worried about sending the kids to school, because we always thought school was a safe place. We have since learned better. Churches. Malls. Parks. Ditto. Our kids had to learn how to be safe from the natural elements, as well as the human elements. Even now we learn the frightful story of Neighbors!
Our kids traveled out of state without us. What were we thinking?!!?
But as a kid? Me? Every place, and every person we knew, rang with the sound and clarity of safety.
I remember the first time my daughter went into the store by herself.
It was raining cats and dogs.
My wife and I were sick and needed some medicine.
She was about 8, or 9 years old.
With strict instructions, we parked at the front door in a no-parking zone.
Pins. Needles. And fear. And much prayer!
As she walked in and came back successfully, our hearts melted and we were thankful to God that our prayers for safety were answered.
Protection and Safety
In previous generations and places, safety was often sought for by building walls, moats, gates and various defensive measures to keep the enemy out. Early churches in Europe were built for safety from invaders and were often the last place of desperation sought for. Walls separating countries were built, and though you may think of the Great Wall of China, do not forget Hadrian’s Wall in the UK, or the wall that separated East and West Germany.
Not only do we build protective barriers, but we also clear cut land so that authorities can see who may be sneaking across. There are controlled crossing locations, and guards to protect the coming and going of citizens and strangers.
Dangerous people are locked away into places of safekeeping, away and out of the public eye. When we travel we are warned to have situational awareness – keep your eyes and ears open to your surroundings and look for safe places.
It’s almost like the days of learning to fly
when I was taught to always keep an eye out for emergency landing places
and looking for other dangers that may be in my path!
Keep your head on a swivel! Danger could be lurking all around!
In Our Own Backyard
And yet, all that extra work and warm fuzzy feeling of being safe evaporates. Left behind are worried looks and sleepless nights. My wife makes sure every door and window is secure. We see danger more frequently than what we knew as children, and it keeps us from enjoying new places around the world.
In fact, those things most of us fear have crept into our own backyard. We are not safe anywhere. Anytime. Statistics prove that we are getting more violent and dangerous times are ahead as we move further into the new millennium.
Now we think about safe rooms, safe houses, and places kids and families can go for protection when dangerous times and people emerge. Some wrap themselves up with self-protection schemes and equipment to create a measure of safety. Others prepare hide-away places where they store up against the ultimate day of no safety.
Confess! We look for better locks, passwords, and gear to protect the body while we enjoy recreation. Throughout the day we want warnings of impending danger (earthquake, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes). Somewhere we found out that we want signs warning that coffee is hot, and our small appliance should not be used in or around water. We want more computers in our cars to better deal with other drivers on the road! We give up freedoms for the call of safety!
Before long, well, we will all hide in our shell away from all the things that may harm us… But at least we’re safe!
Here’s my thought today.
I woke up recently thinking about safe places. It was a strange morning of thought, scripture, prayer, and awareness. People and places we used to assume were safe are now just as dangerous as others. Many we once trusted without a shadow of a doubt, are reviewed to determine their trustworthiness. We prepare for acts of unstable people. How? Mostly by hiring and voting for people to take care of our country, and ourselves. You know. Soldiers. First Responders. Senate, Congress, Judges…President.
Who do we want in these positions? The best people for the job!
But as a Christian, I realize true safety is found in iconic lessons and images we learn from the Word of God. Why? It’s part of our documented past! You may not believe in them and may follow something else, but do we not all find words of instruction and safety from wiser people ages ago? At least we find them always quoted on social platforms!
You can stress over the safety needs you discern, but what about those things you cannot see? Can you learn to trust someone else’s view of hidden dangers? Perhaps. I know I trust in God for the future I cannot even imagine! There’s something sweet about knowing the power of prayer and trust in God who sees and knows what you cannot comprehend!
"Worry is like a rocking chair: it keeps you moving but doesn't get you anywhere." ~Corrie Ten Boom Share on XWho Do You Trust?
You cannot have a belief system that trusts in God outside of His Word. That’s our foundation for learning about trusting God. It was Solomon who penned these strong words, and I’ve used them often when troubles come. Call on the name of the Lord!
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
(Proverbs 18:10 NKJV)
David, the father of Solomon, started his young life knowing God as the place of peace and safety. Many times he learned that his safe place was not under man’s consideration, but God’s. His summation, even in times of trouble?
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.
(Psalms 4:8 NKJV)
The Apostle Paul
In the end times, the Apostle Paul describes life as we will experience it. Are we living in those times? Who knows. I don’t. But the one thing I listen for is those who cry for peace and safety. Then, heeding Paul’s advice, I start making sure my life is ordered for the ending of times.
But of the times and the seasons, brethren,
ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:
we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others;
but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night;
and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober,
putting on the breastplate of faith and love;
and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 KJV)
Safety and Peace
Safety and peace may not be found in the “here and now”… but a time and place will someday be found. People look for that place today, but it may be a long time coming before we finally understand where our safe place might be.
I found a tweet recently that spoke volumes to me at a time I was searching for information. I had tweeted out: “There is only one truly safe place in life. Think about it. Where is your safe place? I know mine.” and within an hour a connection of mine had tweeted a thought that summed up where I know my safe place to be…
“Every calling has it’s cross; however, God extends grace to carry our cross as we faithfully serve in our calling.” ~Anthony D Bailey
God’s Grace
My place of safety is found in God’s grace. Simply put, it’s the unmerited favor of the “One who made it all” (an ode to a line from John Denver). We may stress about the present, agonize over our past, and worry continually about the future, but it’s God’s unmerited favor that I trust in.
Yes. Rain falls on the just and the unjust, but there is an umbrella of protection that extends long into the future when I’m in God’s Resting Place!
How about you? What place have you found in life that is your safe place? Praying for you.