In a world which seems to be spinning out of control, what does safety in God look like? The chaos all around us could plummet one into despair were it not for God’s grace and keeping power.
We are in the midst of tragedies. We see pain and fear in the faces we meet. We may be in the midst of our own pain and tragedy, asking the age old questions, “Where is God? Why and how did He allow this to happen?”
Witnessing and hearing of suffering can create a kind of paranoia for us. We may further ask, “What keeps me from possibly experiencing the same thing?” The unexpected can wreak fear, bitterness, and resentment. We may then travel down a slippery slope of a bad attitude towards God, frustrated because He didn’t handle things they way we thought He should.
We face lots of questions day in and day out. These questions could wreck our faith if we are not grounded in the truth of the Father. Knowing who God is and who we are in Him keeps us anchored in the storms of life.
Jesus put it this way in John 17:11-18:
“Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”
As believers, we are in the world, but not of the world. When we know this, we can rest in Jesus. Sure, this looks different for everyone, but nevertheless, this reality is paramount.
Learning to rest in God generates feelings of safety in him. Yes, our feelings are important to the Father, contrary to some teachings. He made us with feelers, and He is the only one who can keep them in some type of control, lest we completely fall apart. Consider rehearsing this acronym of REST.
R-eceive His love-Romans 8:37-39. Whether we feel like or not, he always knows what’s best. Sometimes this is hard to accept, but its reality persists. He acts and responds to us out of his heart of love.
E-mbrace His grace-Hebrews 4:16. His grace is always sufficient; we need to learn how to walk in it step by step. Being honest with God is one way to practice this.
S-et your mind-Colossians3:2. What we set our minds on will guide our lives. We need to check our gaze along this journey of life. We have an enemy who majors in sidetracking us, getting our eyes stuck in destructive places. Turn your eyes upon Jesus!
T-rust His keeping power-Colossians 1:17. Thank God that Jesus holds all things together when our feeler is losing it and the bottom just dropped out!
So basically, we are kept and protected by the truth. When we are sanctified in the truth—in Christ, no matter what goes on around us, in us or to us, truth undergirds and prevails in our lives. I saw this played out in my mother’s life over and over again. Even until death, truth ruled her life; she kept it close in her heart and demonstrated unwavering faith.
We cannot feel safe in God on planet earth without high dosages of truth. Lies prevail and it’s easy to get them stuck in our heads. Truth empowers and produces an environment of feeling safe in God. In the face of COVID-19, we need truth to abound in our lives more than ever before—truth such as Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Or, we can hold onto the truth of Psalm 57:1: “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by.”
As we are all in the midst of this pandemic, may our faith not waver; may we stand strong together as his children. May we seek Him like never before for His will in our lives. Really, Christ is the safest place on earth. We won’t always understand what is happening, but we can be kept by the truth—that supernatural, undying word of God.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Skip McDonald is an author, speaker, nurse and resource specialist for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship—a college campus ministry. Skip has a passion for wholistic living in body, soul and spirit. She champions mental and emotional health, notably in the faith community. As a psychiatric nurse and Mental Health First Aid Instructor, she brings a wealth of experience. She is currently writing several mental health Bible studies, looking at Scripture through the lens of mental and emotional health. She is the founder of Integrative Grace, LLC, a discipleship ministry and Freedomsize Worship Fitness, LLC.
Skip is the author of “Christ, My Life-The Great Exchange,” “The Garden of My Heart” and “And She Lived Happily Ever After.” She resides in Smyrna, GA serving with InterVarsity in the southeast. She can be contacted through skipmcdonald.org.
