Security

A few years ago, our house was broken into. We weren't home, and nothing was taken, but it wigged us out and we had trouble sleeping for awhile afterward. Within a week, we had an ADT home security system put in. I remember the guy who installed it. He was very chatty, and I asked him at one point if he liked his job. I haven't forgotten his response. He said, "Oh, yeah! Selling false senses of security is what I do! Do you think this system will keep you safe? Why just last year...." and he went on to tell me of all these instances where burglars outsmarted the system while people slept, etc. What a conversation that was! I remember smiling (with my jaw hanging open) and thinking, we sure are schmucks to have this thing installed after a sales pitch like that!!

I've thought about the ADT guy's remarks a lot lately. After all, don't we all have false senses of security to some extent? I know that when my grandmother, Neeny, died our entire family was rocked. We hadn't realized how much we all depended on her to be our sounding board, comedy show, and bestower-of-wisdom all in one. She made everything better, and she had been doing that our entire lives. There is a void that can never be filled in our family now, and we've all had such a hard time losing, suddenly, our very best friend.

Since losing Neeny, I've often prayed, "Lord, if there are other areas that are false senses of security that I'm depending on, please reveal them. I want to depend only on you, and want my feet on unshakable ground in case the Earth moves in this way again!" I don't want any idols in my life, and while I don't think my grandmother was an idol, I do want to learn to depend solely on God, and to do it in a way that is joyful and where circumstances become irrelevant. It's an interesting reflection exercise, figuring out how to love and enjoy and cherish without resting my hope there with the ones I love.

So...this year has been one full of tremors. It seems that every area that I have been confident in has shown cracks and threatened to fall away. Situations within my own family, my position in the school that I love, a dearest friend who has moved away... There have been times when I've wanted to recant my prayer, and just beg God to keep me comfortable. Maybe it's not the time to learn dependence on Him! Not all at once, anyway!

Except, I'm learning it. This has been such an awful and sweet year, all at once. There's a song by Avalon that goes, "Your Word is life, your Word is hope, your Word is strength," and while I've always loved the song, I haven't really known the truth in those words until lately. I have friends who offer advice in ways that are contrary to Scripture, and it's like the advice just rolls off. There's a new clarity here now, I guess. Then there are others of you who have shared verses or prayed with me in a way that is so apt, that I'm sure the encouragement came from the Holy Spirit himself...and his Word is LIFE! Thank you for your encouragement!

I don't know why God is faithfully teaching me so much right now. I hope it's not because I'll have to use these lessons anytime soon!!! :) If I do, though, I know whom I have believed. I know where my rest is. I have been given optimism and hope, not just from my grandparents and Mom and the family that I love so much, but also from the Giver of all Life. And hope. And joy. And that's a very, very good thing. Because I don't think there's gonna be a thief out there who can outsmart that kind of security.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say REJOICE!
Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand.
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will
keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 4:4-7