FINDING SECURITY - Psalm 37:3

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”

(Psalm 37:3)

Have you ever had that moment when you’re walking down the street and for a split second you think, “Oh!! Where’s my phone??” Your heart stops, as you frantically check for it. Then you discover it, there it is, in your bag or your pocket and that feeling of relief seems to restart your heart!

These days our smartphones have become such a handy tool for living that to leave it behind could mess up everything. A while ago, I was on a bus to the airport, but I had no idea what terminal to get off at. Time was tight and to get off at the wrong stop would’ve meant having to wait for another bus and possibly missing the flight. Thankfully I had my phone, so I Googled my flight number which told me which terminal it was departing from. Problem solved!

It’s a scary thing to ask, “What would I do without my phone??” We’re lost without them when they run out of charge! Could we get by without them? Often having a phone with us makes us feel secure. It keeps us connected to our friends, when distance is an issue. It's got all the numbers we need with sites and links to call up if we're lost, or need to know stuff. These and other useful features give us the feeling of security, that we have all we need. It’s like a confidence, making us feel prepared for whatever we might face.

We read the words “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” Trusting has to do with placing our confidence in something or someone. We rely on them so much, that if they were to let us down we would be stuck. Much like the way we treat our phones, God wants us to feel secure in the fact that He is with us; but more than that, He wants us to rely on Him in the times when we need extra help.

When we feel overwhelmed or when evil people get their way, it can make us doubt whether we'll avoid the harm that is threatening to come in our direction. However God wants us to see things from His perspective. He sees from the beginning right through to the end. He says that evil has an influence that is fading, they’ll be forgotten in no time. He wants us to see what He sees.

How can we see things God’s way? The words “dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture,” give us a step in the right direction. A dwelling is an old word for a place to live. Have you ever been upset by something, only to be told “Don’t dwell on it”? God wants us to turn our attention from those negative things and instead to live with our focus on how He (the Almighty) is with us. Maybe you will ask, “But what good would that do?” Seeing God as the answer to your difficulties opens the door of faith. God responds to faith by answering and providing what we need. He promises us “safe pasture,” like a shepherd who finds a safe place for his sheep and stays as a guard over them. When we trust God, we enter His place of safety and will enjoy His help when we need it.

When we put our confidence in God for the answers (like the way we trust our phones) it's powerful the things that will happen!! I simply say to God “Father God, please fill in the gaps for the things that I can’t do.” It’s not a magic formula, but it’s my way of telling God that I am relying on Him for the things that stress me out. I expect you have those days when you wonder how you will get through? We can fret about things beyond our power to fulfil. This is where God says, “Let me handle that, I’m always working on your behalf. I’ll take care of it for you.”

Father God. I thank You that I can find my security in You. You are a good, good Father. I choose to trust You. I am confident that You are with me, You go ahead of me and are working out answers to things I haven’t even asked for yet. I invite You to be King of my life, I’ll talk to You throughout my day and enjoy your presence with me. In Jesus’ name!

Paul is the author of some books for young people that take the time to think about God's words on a deeper level. If you would like to read more, why not subscribe to this blog. Devotions will be added every Tuesday and Thursday in the month of April 2020.

Picture of woman with phone: Daria Nepriakhina Unsplash