I am safe
There is a wildfire nearby; we are about 10 miles from its start, and it is slowly creeping toward us. I have been following it closely as a fire can do anything it wants. It has become the seasonal norm, unfortunately; in fact, it is now more than that, as it can occur at any time because we are in a drought and very dry.
As I looked at my phone there was a message that wanted me to reply if I was safe from this fire. That answer, “I am safe”, is what caught my attention. What is safe? Safe from danger, safe from abuse, safe from persecution; it can take many forms. It reminds me of how the apostles and early Christians lived in danger of persecution; of how many still do today. There are no guarantees in life that we will be free from trials; in fact, we have been told that because we follow Christ, danger may be a way of life in this world (Acts 8:1; John 15:19; Luke 21:17).
We can try and trust in providing our own safety, but Proverbs 28:26 (NIV) says, ‘Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.’ I cannot hold back a wildfire on my own, but there are measures I can take to keep myself and my family safer, such as keeping our property free of weeds and green. We can keep all the protocols for not starting a fire. We can be prepared to leave for safety if necessary.
David pleaded for God’s protection in Psalm 141:9, ‘Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me.’ David had been chased by King Saul who was trying to kill him. Though David went through a great trial, God was with him, and David was assured of his presence and help. What has God promised us? Did he promise we would have a trouble-free life? Did he promise we would not be harmed physically? Did he promise us riches, as some would like us to believe?
What God has promised is that he will always be with us (Matthew 28:20). He promised that nothing would come between us and his love (Romans 8:38-39). Though I love this physical life, it is my soul that he holds in his hands and always will.
So, am I safe?
I truly am safe in God! Right now, I am safe from this wildfire. I am safe from abuse and persecution, but things in this life are in constant motion, constant change. Nevertheless, John 17:33 reminds us that while we will have trouble in this world, we should take heart because Jesus has overcome the world.
Thanks be to God because he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer
We praise you God for in you we are always safe! In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen.
Study by Anne Gillam
Anne Gillam is a retired Pastor in Grace Communion International, Klamath Falls, Oregon, USA.
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