Therefore, we will not fear….

Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:1-2, 10.

How can someone really feel safe? What would you tell someone who asked? You could suggest the following: 1) Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents; 2) Don’t stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home; 3) Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians; 4) Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve one of these forms of travel; 5) 32% of all deaths occur in hospitals, so above all else, avoid hospitals.

However, you will be pleased to know that only .01% of all deaths occur in worship services in church (and these are usually related to previous physical problems). Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church!

But all kidding aside, being in church might hopefully help us find God, and it is with God that we find our greatest place of safety and security. We may think we find security in many things: money, possessions, a home; family and friends.

But will any of these ultimately give us safety and security? Not really.

Only a sovereign God can be an adequate refuge & strength for us. He is indeed our refuge.

Only an omnipresent God can be an “ever present” help in trouble. And please note from the Psalm 46 reading above: trouble is assumed! We live in a sad, fallen world in which trouble and hardship and death happen. The good news is that in the midst of this trouble, we can have a real sense of security and not be afraid.

The “therefore” is crucial! It must stand out in our minds every day. because of who God is, we will therefore not fear. It’s a conscious choice. It’s not “cannot fear” but will not fear…..a deliberate choice based on who God is.

So what will you say to someone who asks “how can we be safe & secure?” Hopefully this: Our God is sovereign over all things. He is, to those willing to trust him, an ever present help.

Our God does not promise a life of ease without calamity or hardship. He knows pain and suffering very well. But God wants us to learn to trust him, to let him alone be God. That will mean we must learn to listen… to be still and pay attention to him. Our sense of safety and security will come only as we pay attention to him!

Our greatest safe place is not in this life. We may be safe now in a temporary sense, but even though great calamity come upon us and we die, God is still our refuge and strength, a fortress and protection, for he has provided us life beyond this life, and nothing can separate us from him.

Rev. Randy Crane is the pastor at Waldensian Presbyterian Church in Monett. He may be reached at cranes5@hotmail.com.