I’ll admit – I’m a bit scared to write this. There’s some (theologically unsound) 
apprehension that once I say this out loud, or in writing, the Lord will ask me to live it out more completely.
I place a high priority on safety. I’m not a fan of “risk for risk’s sake”. I want to feel safe – and my choices of where to live and what to do on a daily basis are impacted by this. I admit to feeling a bit nervous when my adult daughter lives in a city and I don’t know how “safe” her neighborhood is. My first thought when I think of certain regions of the world or certain parts of a city is primarily the lack of safety. And so on – in big and small ways, my thoughts are filtered through safety.
I don’t think that is necessarily wrong. In fact, I think it’s wise.
But what if safety becomes an idol?
How do we know if it is an idol? For me, it would be an idol if my “yes” to the Lord was held hostage to my requirement for safety. If safety absolutely had to be first – no matter what, no exceptions.
As followers of Jesus, idolatry in any form needs to be recognized and confronted with brutal honesty about the place it holds in our lives. Anything that supplants the Lord as number one in our lives is an idol. Is safety an idol in my life? Maybe not. Do I need to be watchful so that it doesn’t become one? I do. If I felt the Lord calling me to an unsafe place, would I go? I hope so.
There’s a commonly repeated phrase, intended to bring comfort, but which nags at me because I don’t think it is true – at least not the way people tend to use it.
“The safest place to be is the center of God’s will.”
Is the center of God’s will absolutely the RIGHT or BEST place to be? Yes. Is it the “safest” by the measure most of us use for safety? I’m not sure it is.
Look at the apostle Paul, who describes his life this way: “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (2 Cor. 11:24-27)
There’s the early church, in Acts 3:29, who when faced with strong persecution did not pray for safety but prayed “Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness ….”
Matt Blazer, my pastor in Connecticut, describes any promised safety this way: It refers to our internal heart and our eternal salvation.
So what does it take to make this shift in perspective?
Let’s start by being honest that safety and comfort are not the same thing. Most of the world lives very differently than we do. A lack of nice houses, air conditioning, good food, regular electricity, or indoor toilets – or even the presence of things like lice and bed bugs – is not primarily a safety issue. It’s primarily a comfort issue. We can talk about safety, but let’s make sure we’re not really talking about comfort.
Let’s admit that it is impossible to be incarnational with our message of the gospel and also make our comfort or our safety the most important thing. If we follow the model of Jesus, we will dwell among those we are called to love. Whether or not it is comfortable. Whether or not it is safe.
Let’s realize that the shift involves the spiritual realm and not just the physical one. Erwin McManus tells a story of his son, who had been scared by demon stories during his first time at a Christian summer camp. He asks Erwin “Will you pray that God will keep me safe?” Erwin’s response was “I can’t pray that God will always keep you safe, but I will pray that God makes you so dangerous that when you enter a room, the demons flee.” (paraphrased based on my memory of the story)
Can I get there? To the point where I am more concerned about being powerful in the spiritual realm than safe or comfortable in the physical realm? I don’t know. But I think I’m supposed to try.
(Postscript Note: I work for an organization that makes safety a top priority for our mission trip participants – and it is right for us to do so. This is not about questioning or changing that. Scripture is clear that we are to be wise, that we are to count the cost before entering into something. I believe safety is part of that equation. But I’ve written before about a tendency to mask fear by calling it “wisdom”. And Seth Barnes, the founder of Adventures in Missions, often tells people that if we wanted our kids to be safe, we shouldn’t have introduced them to Jesus.)
It’s making me rethink our “NO MOPEDS OR SCOOTERS” advice to our racer. That was your point, right? Seriously though – as I read the racer blogs I recognize safe is a relative term, smart choices and trusting in the Lord doesn’t necessarily add up to safety. But trusting and following lead to the best path. Thanks for sharing!
Amen, Betty! I totally agree with what you have written here and think this is a big issue in the American church today. How about “The BEST place to be is in the center of God’s will” ? I always cringe when I hear “Safety first!” being said to kids, as if that is the most important thing that we want them to remember as they go out and play or whatever. Biblically, I think it would be better to tell our kids, “Righteousness and love first!” but I agree that that’s not very catchy. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your thoughts and journey.
What a beautifully written message that speaks to my heart and I am sure, the hearts of many! I am in full agreement that safety as defined by God may look and feel very different from the world’s definition. While the “best” place to be is in the center of God’s will, it may not result in our physical or emotional safety. Thank you for calling this out and your honesty and transparency!
Back in about 1997 I was in a Bible study on Acts and realized that when they sent people out, they prayed for power of the Holy Spirit and that the Good News would be made known. It hit me that they weren’t praying for safety, as the church now commonly prays. We send people off on mission trips, or as they move or go off to college or new jobs, and we pray for safety. Not much happens when we sit safely in a cocoon. I listen to those prayers and really don’t like them. We should be praying for the power of God and the Good News of Jesus to be made known, for lives to be changed, for the Holy Spirit to move, for opportunities to preach and heal and raise the dead. Basically, pray for the tough stuff that God uses and where He works. So I have a reputation/joke among my close friends that we don’t pray for safety, but pray for danger (sort of). Pray for the for God to MOVE, and that’s a whole lot better than safety. I agree that we’re not here to live long, comfortable lives, but rather to get out there and serve the Living God, come what may.
“A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.” Great post, Betty!
I’ve prayed that God would keep her safe, but I know that nowhere is safe anymore. She can’t serve without putting herself into harm’s way; the adversary according to II Corinthians 4:4 is the god of this world, so wherever we are, he can take a crack at us. I’ve prayed for the best decisions and thanked God for supplying her need as He said He would. I’ve had cringing relatives, and I’ll admit some of the local foodstuffs haven’t appealed to my idea of something good to eat, but I live in a lap of luxury many people can’t even imagine, albeit it on a fixed income with a disability. I imagine that at some time, lots of us may find out more than we want to know about the living conditions of most of the world; if so, God can still navigate there. My biggest dilemma during this total period has been missing–times of not being able to talk to her. Like you said, peace and safety shouldn’t be our primary motives. Thanks, Betty, for sharing.
Thanks Betty! As always – VERY WELL SAID (written). I love how you have lived this out incarnationally, and let us share the “adventure” with you! Before I’m ready to say that our church needs to hear this, I KNOW that I need to hear, and respond to this truth!
As I read the beginning of your blog, I found myself chuckling as I imagine we are opposites where safety is concerned! I have always been a risk taker – ” jump, then look” – and it’g gotten me into hot water a few times. When my racer first launched, I prayed that she would stay in God’s hands, but I don’t think I prayed for safety – I knew that if she was in God’s hands, she would weather whatever storm He took her through. I love that you relate to the book of Acts – those were certainly dangerous times and yet if we are truly following Jesus, we must take risks! I loved all of this blog and will probably read it more than once. It’s very thought provoking. Thanks for sharing, Betty!
This is well-said, Betty! Thank you for stepping out with courage and saying things that all of us (especially parents) need to hear. I’m going to remember to say, “In God’s hands is the BEST place to be” when asked by others if I’m afraid of our daughter traveling internationally with WR.
Betty, I very much resonate with your post. My husband and I have both had loving friends who have gently confronted us about the “idolatry of safety” in regards to our Racer Alumni, Graham. And they are correct.
This is a huge challenge for Royce and me when it comes to our two children. And even more for Graham, because he completed his year with World Race and then shipped a motorcycle over to Asia, and then could not find a companion to “circle the globe” with him, and then he took off all ALONE. That was 3 1/2 months ago.
The worst part for us as parents was when when Graham went through several “Stans”, completely on his own… including Afghanistan (where he picked up a parasite), and near the border of Syria (when the US was evacuating all family members of embassy employees in that area, and Graham could hear gunfire at night)….
Thank God Graham was willing to carry an “InReach” satellite tracking device on his body at all times, which notified Royce and me every two hours of his exact location….
But this put several years of aging on Royce. He looks older now. Sleep was rare.
We told Graham that if he disappeared, we would spend the rest of our lives looking for him or his body…
Such is the idolatry of safety….
It is so hard to find that “balance” of wise prudence with safety, vs “letting go” and seeking God more than we seek safety.
FYI… Praise God Graham made it through Asia. He is now in Western Europe. God led Graham to L’Abri Christian Fellowship in Switzerland a couple of days ago, and decided to stay for a bit. This was a reminder to Royce and me that God is looking out for Graham in a way that we never could.
We love you, Betty, and look forward to seeing you in a few weeks.
Darrah and Royce Garvin
This reminds me of Irwin Raphael McManus’s Barbarian Way. He talks a lot about safety, and how the longing for safety tames us and leaves our kids bored and boxed in: “You are not intended to be a spiritual zoo where people can look at God in you from a safe distance. You are a jungle where the Spirit roams wild and free in your life! You are the recipient of the God who cannot be tamed and of a faith that must not be tamed. You are no longer a prisoner of time and space, but a citizen of the Kingdom of God ~ a resident of the barbarian tribe. God is not a sedative that keeps you calm and under control by dulling your senses. He does quite the opposite. He awakens your spirit to be truly alive.” And “If our children are going to walk away from Christ, we need to raise them in such a way that they understand that to walk away from Jesus is to walk away from a life of faith, risk, and adventure, and to choose a life that is boring, mundane and ordinary.” Thank you for the reminder!
I love seeing how this resonates with parents. Well said, Betty!
I DO believe that the best place is to be in the center of God’s will. I do NOT believe that that guarantees anyone “safety”. I remember my parents being so concerned when our daughter was getting ready to leave on the race and then when I told them that if our daughter asked, we would join her for PVT in Swaziland. My mom (a Christian for 40+ years) said to me “You wouldn’t really go, would you?”. I told her that of course I would!!
I do recall praying for safety for our daughter and her squad. I am still praying for that as I pray for other squads. But, ultimately, I know that none of us are promised a long life, or one without challenges and hard, hard things! Right now I am praying for Y Squad that they will be given strength to do what God is asking of them right now in Greece. And yet, I also know that those racers are probably feeling the weakest and most confused they have ever felt in their lives!!
All of that said—as our oldest daughter, son-in-law, 4 little babies ages 5 down to 2 months, AND our almost 19 year old daughter left yesterday afternoon to drive 15 hours from up here in New England back to their new home in SC, I prayed through the night for their safety and for God to protect them and to keep my son-in-law and daughter alert and able to drive.
Betty–you have given me much to think about…to really ask the Lord if I HAVE made “safety” an idol. I think it is good to ask for that for our loved ones. And I want to trust the Lord with any fears I might have…I don’t want to live in fear that something bad could happen.
I was glad to hear that Graham has “landed” in one place for now, Darrah!
I like that – Righteousness and love first!
Pat – Thank you. I sure enjoyed getting to know you on the Swazi PVT. What have you been up to since then?
Sharie – I realized the same thing about the early church (as recorded in the book of Acts) years ago as well. I still remember being so struck by the truth in the verse I quoted – the fact that they didn’t pray the persecution would stop. They didn’t pray for safety. They prayed for boldness. At the time, I could see the difference between that and the American church but it’s taken me years to feel like I can even claim to grab a tiny piece of that for my own life.
Thanks Glenn. Love that image.
Thank you. You’re right – it’s so easy to lose sight of who the real enemy is. And WR parents are reminded of that in so many ways – on top of just plain missing them.
Thanks Brad. I’m so grateful you’ve been on this journey with me. You play a bigger role in my ability to do this than you know.
Mary – I’m so glad there are people out there who are wired opposite of how I am. Part of figuring out what this looks like in my life comes from having role models who come by it more naturally!
Bev – I always feel for WR parents who not only have to wrestle with their own fears and letting go issues, but who also have to defend that to family members and friends. Praying that God gives you good conversations as part of the process.
Darrah – Thank you for your vulnerability here. Can’t wait to hear more about what God did in YOU as you, hour by hour, had to trust Graham to Him.
Carol – You were the one who first introduced me to Erwin McManus – you were reading Unstoppable Force on one of my visits. Shortly after that, I heard him give a talk that included the story I used above – it was the talk that eventually turned into The Barbarian Way book. Long before I could really believe it was possible in my own life, he stirred the desire in me to be part of this great big adventure we get to be part of. Through all the hard years, listening to his sermons/talks always brought an odd sense of hopefulness and perspective to my life – they seemed to lift my eyes to heaven for more than just comfort. The sense that there was more stirred and grew in me.
Seth – I’m loving seeing the parents’ comments as well. I sure do love that I get to walk with them in this season.
Jennifer – I have watched you grow so much since I first “met” you on the FB page when your daughter launched. And I resonate with some of your thoughts. My mom was very fearful about many things and given my own natural tendency to fearfulness, I grew up not knowing how to push through that. I’m so grateful the Lord has changed that. And I appreciate your desire to keep growing – learning to not live in fear that something bad could happen will continue to bring greater levels of freedom in your life and ministry.
This reminds me of something Oswald Chambers used to to say—that when our friends, family, (or even ourselves) are going through trials to not pray and ask for them to end quickly. Instead, let us pray for the strength to endure and to learn the things that God would have us learn through the trial.
Of course we miss them! 😀 They are treasured people that we love so dearly. It is okay to miss them. Navigating that is hard….and I find that I meet with God more so as we work that out together.
Awww–thank you, Betty! I have been stunned at how God has used our daughter’s World Race to work in my heart. Fear was always somthing I dealt with even as a child….and my own mother was fearful. I just finished reading the chapter in Kingdom Journey’s about parents and how we need to let go, etc. So appropriate to this discussion. I shudder at the “me” that had such a hard time letting go. Who worked so hard to have a good relationship with her children but thought that was defined by being so involved the one of them had to “break” free and set off on the World Race. Reading that chapter this morning has also helped with our 17 yo son. He is SO independant…in a great way. But I have felt that he needed to be “reined in”. I am thankful for how the Lord continues to open my eyes…and I am thankful for a husband who helps to give me balance when I want to clutch too much. As I have been “letting go”, I have been walking in a freedom I have not known before and that is exciting!!! A good healthy freedom that allows me to encourage and support and build up each child/adult without thought of my self and what I want for ME. God is so good!!
I am thankful, Betty, for the encouragement and support you give. And how you live out for so many the truth that God never stops working in us and He will always have work for us to do AND He equips us so well for it!
Jennifer –
I also have an independent son and I remember a particular time when the Lord convicted me about my own fear and hesitation. My son was in high school (he’s now 30) and as part of my time with the Lord one day I was reading the story of the friends who carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus and had to go up on the roof, dig through the roof and lower him down to get him to Jesus. I realized my son would have done that – and I knew I would have been “Are you sure that’s okay to do?” It was an eye opening realization.
Well said Betty.
When Joseph and I were figuring out which mission agency we were going to serve with for a Sabbatical year (1987-88). We finally settled on Wycliffe Associates, and were making plans on where we would serve. We knew, before we left Connecticut, that we might go to Brazil and Peru. At that time the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) guerrillas was wreaking havoc in Peru, and we could read the reports here. It surely didn’t sound “safe”.
We went anyway. I’m not sure it was a step of bravery on my part, but it didn’t keep me from going.
My real comment though, is what it was like being here and thinking about going somewhere “unsafe” vs. what it was like to actually be there. Once we were in Peru, it just became our regular life! Granted we were not in an “inflamed area”, but the fear factor was different actually being somewhere known vs. being here and thinking about going somewhere that sounds scary.
I hope I am communicating!
I can remember walking around in the jungle – our home, our work – and realizing that I didn’t feel unsafe. It was a revelation to me in dealing with fear.
So there is a perspective problem that the enemy can use to his advantage.
Fear could keep us from going, AND if we go, it could plague our loved ones who remain behind! (This may be some of what the parents face in your ministry.)
There are people that fear coming to the United States because they hear about all the gun violence. You and I don’t get up, drive to the city, and worry for our lives though!
To us, this our known world and our regular life. Missionary service can become a known world and regular life too.
Surely there are truly dangerous callings. I can only believe that God equips us for that as well.
Nancy Lehman
Nancy – That’s a great point about perception of danger and how the enemy uses that. I wish I knew more about your time with Wycliff and the things the Lord did in you during that time.
Yes–that would be my son too! 😀 I have actually let my husband set the standard for our boys as I was raised with all girls and I need to trust his judgement not “mom’s”. That said–at the root of my feelings about “reining in” our 17 yo is that I miss him around and want to see more of him here, at home, helping his dad like he used to. Saving his dad steps (my husband’s back is not what it used to be…having teens when you are in your 50s is HARD!)…and he IS a great young man and I want to witness that. So at the root of it all, for me, is pure selfishness. But if I can be “joyful” about him and his choices and what he is doing, then what a gift I can give him….and me! Another eye opening realization!
Ahhhhhh. safety! And a word that conjures up so much controversy! I remember the first time I realized that the World Race was not exactly an “organized class trip around the world” (so to speak). I guess I had thought it was a series of mini adventures, staying in hostels (which was scary enough!) and church basements, while serving food and handing out clothing. Not that those things are wrong or even a part of some of the ministries teams are involved in, but I was shocked to read about some racers having to wash their clothing in buckets or eating only rice for an entire month. I thought it HAD to be an exaggeration, surely! When I shared my feelings with my racer, I couldn’t believe it when she didn’t flinch…..she KNEW about this?
I have since come to appreciate those stories the most – the stories of reaching out to the marginalized….those living on the outskirts of society in isolation….village ministry to those who have never even heard the name of Jesus. It was a HUGE step for us to release our daughter, knowing how her disability has limited her interactions stateside. It certainly couldn’t be that “safe” for her if she couldn’t find a way to tap into her inner-strength when the inevitable hard times hit. But we had to realize that being in God’s will was the safest place she could possibly be. After we took every precaution possible to maximize her potential to remain safe, we had to trust God. He blessed her (and us) immensely through this process. But I must say that getting the grandmas to embrace that same idea was (and still is) another story! My racer’s aunt is a doctor and unbeknownst to me, she advised my racer to text or email her if “anything at all happened” (if she injured a limb, got ANY infection, God-forbid contracted malaria, or even came down with the flu), and she would immediately send her money to “get right out of there and return to safety”. She was completely serious! Her and my MIL could not believe we gave our daughter our blessing to be part of something that could possibly jeopardize her safety (and they weren’t even aware of HALF the things that could quite possibly occur). Unfortunately, I really think that they are among the majority of the population.
I agree that we do our children (and ourselves) a disservice by putting the emphasis on safety when that safety keeps them (and us) from living in God’s will. But it’s definitely a learning curve, even for those of us who pride ourselves on being “risk-takers” and adventure-seekers – we aren’t ready when our children want to one-up us in that department! But I am leaning on God and learning, one step at a time!
Loved this!
Thanks for sharng! 🙂
Thank you, Paula; I can so relate to this.
Trust and obey pops out to me! With two of my children serving around the world I struggled with turning them over to the care of the Lord! Now isn’t that silly! After my parent trip to visit them I saw the Lord all over the day and night surrounding them! He controls their time here – we help by using our heads and the brains he gave us to think and be safe!
Wow. This really blessed me this morning. I love Seth’s quote. I also feel like we do this with our 401k’s and savings plans. Often I feel like I hold back giving radically so that my future comforts are assured. However, I always hear that little whisper asking me what could truly be accomplished for the kingdom if I let go and trusted God
Very well written and thank for opening up your heart and sharing, you know that’s not very “safe” to do! LOL. I have been with Fed Ex for 20 years and safety first is on of our core principles. It really can become a fear driven idol. Our American culture does not support risk taking and bold faith moves like sending your only daughter to Thailand. Yet in my heart I know she is much safer there then in her room with her door shut watching net flix. The example of Paul’s life hits home big time. Thank u Betty and all who work so hard at AIM to provide for so many with the ability to take the often un safe journey of taking the love of God to the nations.
GREAT blog and one I need to save when I start to feel that fear for my daughter’s safety creep in! (Especially when we hear they are sick or don’t hear from them for days on end!) I think in general that we moms tend to be more protective, think mama bear here:) But we are told in the Bible NOT to worry and I am getting so much better with that the older I get. I have come to realize how pointless worry is!! One thing that has been hard for me as a racer’s mom is the comments of other “well meaning” friends/family, etc For instance, while Elizabeth was in Africa, after church I had a man come up to ask me if I knew just how many infectious diseases were in Africa!! I immediately felt that fear/worry hit me….but then actually found it funny because of course we knew the risks and the poor girl had taken so many shots we started to call her “the pin cushion”. Of course she could get sick or catch something, so I very politely thanked this man for “his encouragement” (wish you all could have seen his face when I said that! ha ha I also have MANY people ask me how I could let her go to all these places!! First, I remind them she is an adult! Then I ask them to show me anyplace in the Bible where Jesus took the “safe’ route….no, instead you see him hanging out with sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, etc And we are called to be more like HIM!
Thanks, Betty-
You are right on target. I always say that God can take care of Amelia overseas as well as He can in Grand Forks, ND! We desire and pray to always be in the center of His will. Nothing is guaranteed or permanent.. Psalm 139:16 says that “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” I totally believe that! And as fearful as we are about what can happen in the future, the reality is that the Lord does strengthen us when things actually happen. If I knew ahead of time that I would lose my parents (elderly) and two of my brothers (50’s) within a 3 year span (all separately), I would have been terrified. I wasn’t, I had the peace that passed understanding, when these events occurred. Then, Amelia and I found my sweet husband 3 years later, after he had transitioned very suddenly to Heaven. Only a belief in the truth that the Lord knows what He is doing and that He knew when He would call them Home, made it bearable. He brought us all through it when we surrendered it all to Him.
When my children were small I remember the day that I thanked the Lord for the gift my children were to me and I handed them back to Him to do as He willed with them…and He has done that gloriously!
Thank you for this! This will change the way I pray for the squads on the race. Thanks Betty for shining the light on the desire for safety at all costs.
Wow! Betty, this is outstanding and so timely. I remember when Joy first mentioned The World Race to me, I asked about AIM and their record. When it came time to choose routes, I immediately nixed a few, due to my self imposed illusion of what safety is. And then Joy said to me, “Mom, I’m not afraid to die.” I told her, “I’m not afraid for her to die, either. I am (was) afraid, however, of her being kidnapped.” Then she said, “I must do what God is calling me to do,” and then she got teary eyed. I knew then that safety meant being in the Center of God’s will.
Kappy – I am right there with you, feeling the need to be wise about my future and eventual retirement and yet trying to hold my possessions “lightly”.
Lise – It is amazing what people will say. What a great response to him!
I have had similar thoughts and you put them together so clearly here. I know what you are saying is true and I am not where I would like to be. As you say…”To the point where I am more concerned about being powerful in the spiritual realm than safe or comfortable in the physical realm”…but after reading this in the way that you presented it, I want to try harder. I remember Seth saying at launch that if we really wanted to keep our kids “safe” we wouldn’t have introduced them to Jesus. That’s a powerful statement that really is true. I’m thankful for this journey I am taking with my racer and for these “wake-up” calls. Thank you for sharing this, I will be reading this again and again and letting it really sink in.
Betty, thank you so much for posting the link to your blog on Facebook. It was timely for me today. God knew I needed the reminder. For me, I think the heart issue is, “Am I willing to go where the Lord leads me?” My immediate response is, “Yes, Lord!!” Yet, how often do my actions contrac
Oops! I hit submit before I was done. Give a me a minute. I’m sure there’s a way to edit, but I don’t know how. 🙂
Okay, so what I was saying is that… how often do my actions contradict that declaration? Am I really willing to put myself in harms way?? Do I really trust the Lord?? I remember times when I know I’ve shied away from following because of fear, or because I felt powerless or uncomfortable or didn’t know what to say. Prayerfully, the next time our Father calls me outside of my comfort zone, I will respond with faith and with eyes locked firmly on Jesus so that I won’t falter but obey.
I love the verse from Acts and the incredible reminder that following the Lord is not always safe or comfortable. It helps to remember that while we’re not guaranteed safely, God DOES GUARANTEE HIS PRESENCE to never leave us or forsake us. And He does give us warnings to protect us. His Word is full of them. His Holy Spirit continues to speak them. That brings me comfort.
Just this morning, I had a conversation and phone prayer time with my Racer in Thailand. Praise!! As soon as we hung up, the Lord gave me a clear warning which I don’t even fully understand, but it sure has given me prayer focus. The Holy Spirit often speaks to me in pictures and in threes. I left the house immediately after our phone conversation. While driving down the street, a large pick-up truck came driving toward me at normal speed, but with his hazard lights flashing. It seemed strange that the hazards hadn’t slowed him down. Then I came to the stop light. It’s lights were out and blinking red – double red lights flashing. I proceeded with caution and turned left. From there, an even larger trash truck pulled right in front of me, and it’s rear lights were blinking. Again, double lights flashing.
1. Double flashing hazard lights.
2. Double flashing red stop lights.
3. Double flashing rear lights and beeping.
All three of those instances happened in the space of a few minutes or less. I felt the Holy Spirit prompting my heart. I felt Him saying, “Did you see that? Pay attention.”
Are our girls on Team Breath of Life about to walk into danger? I don’t know. Praise God that He is with them, and He carries us with His peace which passes all understanding. Praise God HE KNOWS what ALL our Racers need. He knows what WE need. In the natural, none of those signals indicate stopping, only to proceed with caution, to slow down and make sure it’s safe before proceeding. So, yes. Today I have been praying for safety, for wisdom, for eyes to see, and ears to hear. I’m asking the Holy Spirit for deeper unity as a team with His heart, His Word, and His cleansing, healing blood. I’m asking that our heavenly Counselor will help them proceed with caution and awareness, but with COURAGE to continue despite the dangers. May their team ABIDE so deeply with our Savior that darkness trembles.
I love your honesty and can so relate. I recently told someone that the Lord KNEW my daughter needed to go thousands of miles away so that I couldn’t rescue her. The freedom and healing that she and I have both received is such a gift!!
Great words here, Betty. Thank you for writing this. I think I myself needed to hear this today.
This is so great! I think that safety is an idol in America…because those with much have much to lose. Therefore, we live in fear. If we could put our kids in a bubble we would do it. I learned many years ago, that the opposite of love is not hate…it is fear. Fear freezes us and consumes our way of life in this country. But Hannah told me something once when she was going to visit Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. I was a bit freaked out that they were going into these dangerous areas and she said, “Mom, I would rather die doing what God calls me to than live here by not following him.” Hmmmm…they say a child will lead them!! And she has led me by example. When I think of safety I always think of that quote from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe when they ask if Aslan is safe. “Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.” I know that God is good…even if he isn’t always safe. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your heart Betty.
Hey Betty, so glad to see this. This concept has been floating around in my head for sometime now but you put meat on it for me. I have never thought about SAFETY as an idol but I think you are dead on. And I know that, unfortunately, safety has become the number one priority for too many of us. Thanks for sharing. Very challenging.
Isn’t it interesting how The World Race experience grows parents as much (maybe more in some cases) than the racers?
Betty, this is so well written. Thank you for sharing this and for encouraging us to shake off what can so easily entangle. It’s hard when safety’s old friend, fear, mixes into the equation because it tends to make things look murky. Since becoming a Mom, I’m not quite as daring and tend to be more of a “Safety Sue.” But I think the Lord wants to use our faith to live fully for Him to impact our children more than ever. The Lord used you here to paint a vivid picture of trusting the Him in ALL things and it was done beautifully. Thank you!
Diane – That’s so true. It’s part of why I love Parent Ministry. It’s about so much more than just getting used to them being gone!
Christin – Being a mom does change your perspective, doesn’t it! And it’s important to be wise. The parenting role requires that of you in new ways. One of the things I tell parents of Racers is that the Race is part of the answer to all those prayers they prayed when they had babies and toddlers – “Lord, please let my children grow up to love you with their whole heart and to follow you completely.” That is so easy to pray when they are 3 months old or 3 years old. And then all of a sudden they want to do something like the Race and you see it’s the answer to the prayers but there are so many emotions going on inside you – excitement, happiness, fear, concern, worry, just knowing you’ll miss them and so on.
Betty, great post. I am currently at the beginning of a 9 month study of Revelations thru Bible Study Fellowship. Just went thru the letters to 7 churches. Rev 3:14 to church at Laodicea, that was affluent which promoted a self-sufficient spirit. The church that Jesus said was lukewarm. That Jesus would spew them from his mouth. God has been convicting me for sometime of my unwillingness to leave the comfort of America. The church in America is that church. Far to comfortable to be much service to God. Christians in America look on their prosperity as a blessing of God. Is it possible that it is a tool of Satan to keep us lulled into inactivity? Our comfort is our idol.I know God is preparing me in the future to leave these comforts for his service. As a parent of a former Racer, at some point I have to stop making it about them and their safety, and start looking at my life and what plan God has for me .Food for thought.
Ann – Thank you for the glimpse into where you are. I moved from CT to GA to work for Adventures in Missions four years ago in response to a restlessness that I think may be similar to yours. If you are interested in reading about some of my journey, check out some of my early blogs (e.g., http://bettymeans.myadventures.org/?filename=how-did-i-get-here). You might also resonate with this one – http://bettymeans.myadventures.org/?filename=what-does-god-want-to-do-in-your-50s
Thank you for your reply, Carol. While we live on the field, I can really resonate with this whole thought of safety taming us, leaving our kids bored and boxed in. I’m so thankful our sons have decided to go beyond ‘safety’, even when it does cause me to worry and be concerned. I see LIFE in them that the adventure of following God gives them. I pray as I get older, I will not squelch others, young or old, who are running after love and righteousness rather than safety and comfort.
Hi Betty! I love this paragraph…
“Let’s realize that the shift involves the spiritual realm and not just the physical one. Erwin McManus tells a story of his son, who had been scared by demon stories during his first time at a Christian summer camp. He asks Erwin “Will you pray that God will keep me safe?” Erwin’s response was “I can’t pray that God will always keep you safe, but I will pray that God makes you so dangerous that when you enter a room, the demons flee.” (paraphrased based on my memory of the story)”.
I think you shared this at Launch and I’m so glad you have it here, too. I have to be honest that my daughter’s safety hasn’t been a top concern so far because she’s been in South and Central America. But she will be heading to Cambodia for her last leg of her trip and that triggers some anxiety/panic for my momma’s heart. Thank you for sharing!
Betty I love this! I have prayed the prayer “Abba Father please make our children so dangerous that satan and his followers will flee far from our children!” I am reading a devotional right now that is so on point and this blog fits into it. It is called The Bible Matters Because _____. One of things it discusses is coming out of our comfort zone.
Anytime I feel anxious or restless, I pray and God gives me peace.
Wow! That’s powerful. As Christians we aren’t promised to be “safe” always. In Hebrew we read of all the great saints who were too good for this world and never got the reward here in this life. If all were wonderful here who would want to go to Heaven?
This reminds me of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe when the children ask Mr. Beacer if Aslan is safe. He replies, “safe? He isn’t safe, but he’s good.”
Sherry Veal
Wow! That’s powerful. As Christians we aren’t promised to be “safe” always. In Hebrew we read of all the great saints who were too good for this world and never got the reward here in this life. If all were wonderful here who would want to go to Heaven?
This reminds me of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe when the children ask Mr. Beacer if Aslan is safe. He replies, “safe? He isn’t safe, but he’s good.”
Sherry Veal
Steph – I do use this story at Launch. It’s always been such a good one for setting the correct perspective for me.
Lirios – Sounds like you are embracing your own journey! Coming out of comfort zones is easier for some than for others, but I do believe it is necessary for all of us in order to grow.
Sherry – That’s one of my favorite scenes/quotes. And it has so much truth in it – that His goodness is what we trust in.
Thank you for this post, Betty. My parents were missionaries, and my husband and I were one step away from going to Yemen as missionaries when I started having health problems and didn’t get to go. That has been a great sadness in my life, even though going would have put us out of the realm of physical safety. As my girls have gotten older, God has shown me that my call to missions will be fulfilled through my daughters. One of them is in El Salvador with AIM right now; my other daughter is a senior in high school who feels called to China, and will likely be going there with AIM next year. My parents taught me that the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will, and I believe that, even though it doesn’t mean physical safety. Beth Moore described it like this: It is always God’s will to rescue us; even when it is not done in the physical realm, God will always rescue us TO HIMSELF. (Kind of like it is always God’s will to heal and there are three kinds of healing: instant, gradual, or eternal.) We are spiritually safest in the center of God’s will, closest to Him in our obedience. I do pray for physical safety for Jordan out of fear sometimes, so this blog was a good reminder to trust Him, that she is safe in her closeness to Him.