Thoughts from the Past - Thoughts On Safety and Trust

Psalms 11:1 In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

One of the curious things about safety is that no matter how safe you actually are, if you don’t feel safe you won’t believe you’re safe. My mom remembers years ago a brother in Christ taking her family to a Jewish neighborhood in a large U.S. city. This was probably sometime in the 1950s. As they drove through the area they noticed that the houses were closed, the blinds or curtains were pulled shut. People were not on the streets or in the yards. There were no children playing outside in an era when that was even more common than today. It was quiet and lifeless. The man told them that these people were still afraid because of the terrible experiences many of them had had in Europe during WW II. They were safe in their new country; they could have been enjoying life and their neighborhood -- but they were afraid.

How many of us live our lives like that spiritually or emotionally? We close ourselves away from all others because of some bad experience we had, or because of some danger we imagine may be present, when in reality we are in a place of perfect safety “in Christ.” Some cut themselves off from normal interactions with people or hide away in remote places because of fear. Granted, there are times and places when we may not be “safe” from the harms that come in this life, but I’m speaking of the fear that sometimes dictates our actions where there is no real danger.

I once knew a lady who was afraid to hand out tracts because she thought some terrible thing was going to happen to those who did, that “they” would shortly round us up and do great evil to us if we exposed ourselves like that. Might it happen at some point? Maybe, but that was nearly 20 years ago! Twenty years to be afraid to witness for Jesus because of the “imminent” persecution, which, though it may be nearer, still hasn’t come – not in the form she was expecting. Friends, this is not the way God intends for us to live. Being sober and vigilant of the adversary (1 Peter 5:8) does not mean that we refuse to obey the Lord’s command to go and preach the Gospel because something “bad” might happen. And, it gives a very wrong impression for a Christian.

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
It comes down to this – no matter how much safety God gives us, if we don’t trust Him, we can’t enjoy it.

Trusting

You ask how you learn to trust Him?
Dear child, you must just let go!
Let go of your frantic worry,
And the fears which plague you so;
Let go of each black tomorrow
Which you try to live today;
Let go of your fevered planning,
He knoweth all your way.
Fear not lest your slipping fingers
Let go of your Savior too;
Trusting is only knowing
He’ll not let go of you!
Martha Snell Nicholson

Psalms 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalms 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The Double Clasp

The Saviour's hand - how close its hold,
That none can loosen, none can break.
No powers of heaven or earth or hell
That loving clasp can ever shake.
And over Jesus' wounded hand
The Father's hand of strength is laid,
Omnipotent to save and keep;
Thus is our surety surer made.
So, one beneath and one above,
Father and Son their hands unite.
How safe, how safe the ransomed are
Within that clasp of tender might!

Annie Johnson Flint

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one.

I wonder how much fuller, richer, more productive and more restful our lives would be if we really understood how safe we are in the tender grip of God.

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This video does not have the best sound quality, but I like what the young man said at the beginning. Plus, I appreciated hearing this from an Indian – someone who is in a place that North Americans would generally consider much less “safe” than our world for various reasons.



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Originally published here Oct. 2015