I feel safe

We are creatures of habit at the VanBuren household. At 8:00pm it is time for fruit – 8:30 devotion time and brush teeth then story in bed and prayers like clock work. As we are tucking Joshua and Emma in bed and giving good-night kisses, Andrea retires to our bedroom to read before bed. One particular night she wanted to stay with Kristi and i to play cards. Just a few minutes into the game, Joshua begins to have some anxiety and begins to call for us. The problem was that he was in the habit of having his older sister in the room beside him with the light on reading. But on this night she was not. I asked him what was wrong and he said this, “I just feel safe with Andrea close by”.

I was floored that once again the Lord used one of my children to teach and illustrate the importance and safety of God’s presence in our lives. Throughout the scriptures we read amazing nuggets like “I will never leave you nor forsake you” – Hebrews 13:5 and many passages detailing the kind of protection and comfort the Lord gives us like, “You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope” – Ps. 119:114 and “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety” – Ps. 18:2.

Joshua felt the safety of Andrea’s presence. He knew that alone, he was not as strong and vulnerable. We should learn from this that we need the presence of God in our lives. We need to feel Him close to us. We need to be so close that when we drift away that we can tell the difference and that we are in trouble and unsafe. We need that kind of dependance on one so strong and so powerful, so loving and caring. We need Christ.

We would do well to have the heart of the Psalmist who wrote, “But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O LORD, do not delay” Ps. 70:5. Won’t you give your heart and life to the calmer and creator of the wind and waves and experience the kind of peace that a child feels when we are close by. Jesus is waiting to take you in and love and protect you.

Lord, I pray that you would take my feeble attempt at story telling to reach someone that feels uncertain about life and needs the kind of safety that only you can provide. You are powerful O God and strong – thank you for saving me. Amen!