Secure the Area
When there is a threat made to person, an organization or a country, the order goes out to "secure the area". This means, check everything! Leave nothing unturned. Place guards at all corners, increase defense mechanisms and make sure that everything is monitored at all times so there are NO surprises.
I met someone this week who lives this way. She is constantly on alert, pre-thinking conversations, apologizing for current conversations, carefully choosing words and then analyzing everything after a conversation is over. She questions motives, she anticipates someone's next move and assumes the worst possible outcomes. She is busy, in her mind and heart, securing the area at all times. Despite all this work, she has no peace.
The reason movies with theme songs like, 'let it go' are so popular is because we long to be free enough to do so. The commercials for coffee show a relaxed, smiling woman with no wrinkles or worry lines on her face, sipping a first cup of coffee in the morning before starting her day. She is at peace, and we long for that.
So, is securing the area the way to find peace?
Here is another alternative:
"Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God." Isaiah 50:10
"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track." Proverbs 3:5-6
"God, I’m not trying to rule the roost, I don’t want to be king of the mountain. I haven’t meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content." Psalm 131
If you and I decided to trust God in the areas of life that feel threatened or stressful or unknown, and instead of being committed to 'securing the area', we ask God to guide us, prepare the way, give us wisdom and surprise us with His direction and leading...would we sleep better? Would we be free to play more? Would our minds be actually more alert and bright and able to see the next step on our paths? I think so. I believe it is worth trying.
I keep a small journal to write down 'surprises' that God brings about. These are things that I have not thought through or figured might be an outcome. These are questions that I've written and left to be answered by God. My journal is filling up! God is giving answers, providing wisdom and direction and understanding. Yes, I still lock our house's front door and keep a password on our computer. I'm not suggesting to abandon taking practical precautions in life. But I am suggesting, what would life look like for you and I if we learned to trust God, practically and in the meantime, learned to play a little, relax and feel secure in His care and love for us. I believe that is the safest place to be.
