ARE YOU SAFE? DO YOU FEEL SAFE? - Elaine Kaighen
Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
Several years ago, my husband preached a message concerning “the name of the LORD”. He explained that the phrase, “the name of” was a way of saying “the character of”, or what that person is known for. It was not simply using that person’s name, but rather knowing that person’s character. This was eye-opening for me, and it transformed my life enabling me to repent of living a life filled with WORRY.
Do you know the character or characteristics of God? Who is HE anyway? Then my next question is, “Do you just know that in your head, or do you truly believe that with ALL YOUR HEART?” It is only when you believe it with ALL YOUR HEART that you will feel truly safe.
If we have been a student of God’s Word for very long, we come to know that God is:
All Powerful, All Knowing, All Wise, In Charge, Good, Loving, Just, etc. You could easily add some other characteristics to this list. Now back to the theme verse above: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” What does that mean in practical terms? Let me explain by means of my own personal experience.
The year 2002 was the beginning of a HUGE trial in the life of our family, and that trial has not been fully ended as of 2020. This trial challenged the very foundation of my faith. I am so thankful that I had already come to know that to turn away from following close to Jesus would mean certain destruction in my life; therefore, that was not an option. I often think of the Scripture in John 6:66-69 “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” When life gets tough and it seems that God is not doing anything about it, will we still believe that HE IS who HE says HE is? If so, we will not turn away, and we will realize that there is NOTHING ELSE to turn to. He is the ONLY ONE WHO IS TRUTH! The only other things to turn to would be self or human reasoning which are both destructive at best. I was taught in my youth not to ‘bail out’ in a valley… Do not “undo in the valley” what God told you “on a mountain top”.
Sometimes it can seem as if God is silent or hiding. This reminds me of something Job said, “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:8-10
Job verbalized the fact that he could not see God working in his behalf nor could he perceive His presence; but he knew that God knew and was truly in charge and would make things come out good as gold! The key to feeling safe throughout your trial is to REMEMBER WHO GOD IS and VERBALIZE it!
I had a ‘meeting with God’ one day in the midst of the hottest part of our big trial of life. I NEEDED to get peace in my inner soul. My heart hurt so badly, and it seemed that God was doing nothing to fix the situation. As I was talking to God, I began to verbalize that I knew God was good, that God was in charge, that God loves me (and my kids… even more than I could ever love them), that God would do the right thing, that God knows every hair on our heads and He cares! I then stopped to ask myself, “Do you believe that just in your head, or do you believe that with ALL your heart?” I thought for a few seconds and answered, “Of course, I do believe this with ALL my heart.” The next question came to me, “Then why do you worry?” I realized for the first time ever that when I worry I am actually practicing unbelief!
Unbelief is most offensive to God, for He has never done anything to deserve to be doubted! He loves us so much that He died for our sins, rose again, and offers eternal life freely! A God who does that is a God that can be and should be trusted NO MATTER WHAT! I wept as I confessed the wicked sin of unbelief that was being demonstrated in my life by the way I would worry. I chose right then and there to declare war on that sin and practice living a life of FULLY TRUSTING by verbalizing WHO GOD IS and the fact that I believe that HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS!
Since that day about 10 or more years ago, I am blessed to be worry-free! I still begin to worry… for just a minute, but immediately repent and focus on WHO GOD IS – not just information in my head, but rather TRUTH in my heart of hearts.
By the time I verbalize: “God, I believe that you are good. I believe you are in charge. I believe you do all things well. I believe you love me. I believe you know all things, I believe you will do what is right….” The ability to fully release my concerns to God is accomplished. I feel SAFE! I feel that my loved ones are SAFE IN HIS CARE. I can truly REST and have complete peace.
Just to add another note: I am at peace when I release the results over to God. To a God who does all things well; to a God who loves me; to a God who is just and true, to a God who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. Why should I not want everything to go HIS WAY rather than MY WAY? I do not know what is best. I do not know the future. I do not have a perfect agenda! Running into the NAME OF THE LORD is like running into a strong tower where you are truly safe.
Another favorite verse as a result of this long trial is Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” God is HONORED as He should be when we TRUST Him. He is dishonored when we do not, (when we worry and fret).
Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” We belong to Him, and He should have the right to do with us as He pleases. The “cherry on top” is that HE LOVES US AND HE IS GOOD! Trust and Obey for there is NO OTHER WAY to be HAPPY in Jesus!
Stay Safe in the strong tower of the Name of the Lord. Practice moving the information you know from your head into your heart and enjoy the peace that passeth understanding! Surrender all results over to God Almighty who loves you more than you can ever imagine!