Feeling safe at heart

“Security is not the absence of danger, but the presence of God, no

matter what the danger.”

-- ANONYMOUS

“I don’t feel secure about anything, Cindy,” a friend said to me

with a sad voice and even sadder eyes. “Whether it’s regarding my

children, or my job, or my husband or his job, everything seems so

insecure and unpredictable. Then you throw in this whole war mess,

and I’m just one insecure mess, and I won’t even talk about the

condition of my house.”

My friend continued her story and added that she was confused

about what to say and what not to say to her children about danger

and the war. It’s hard to find the right balance, and what to tell

them about God in all this.

“In fact, where is God in all this, Cindy?”

I explained that I don’t know all the answers, but I know enough

about God to know that he loves and cares for all of us in this

country, as well as those in every country around the world. I know

that God hears our prayers and answers them in ways that I don’t

always recognize, agree with or understand.

Later that day, I overheard a woman in line at the market tell her

friend that she thought she could at least trust in her Social

Security, but then she realized that wasn’t a sure bet, either.

Bank accounts, credit cards and real estate can’t guarantee

security. I realize that only God can provide true inner peace and

security, and we can be secure in the knowledge that nothing can

separate us from the love of God.

Then, I came home and read the latest account in our newspaper

about the state of our homeland security, as well as heightened

security at airports and other vulnerable locations. It’s no wonder

that we’re all feeling insecure. Whether it’s the weather, the war or

the way of the world at the moment, we realize that life is not going

the way we wish it would go. Only God can provide true inner peace

and security in all our situations and struggles.

Right now, we’re praying about the war because we want safety for

our loved ones, no matter what country they live in or where they are

stationed. During these dangerous times we see or hear the news and

try to imagine what it is like for those in the middle of conflict

and also for those with family members overseas.

There is a war going on at home, as well. I don’t mean between

those on both sides of the war debate. Many of us are battling

feelings of frazzle and fear, many of us have hearts that are heavy

with doubts and insecurities.

Clearly there are people to trust and people not to trust. But

only God can be trusted to provide true inner peace and security. Our

government can offer us homeland security for the present, but God

offers us “heartland security,” for eternity.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached by e-mail at

cindy@onthegrow.com or by mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505, Newport

Beach, CA 92658.