4:7 – Security Shaken But Not Gone!

#faithbites #faithjourney security

Setting

(Trigger Warning)

Yesterday (and to some extent today) was hard. I watched on TV as armed rioters (I won’t get into if we called them rioters or terrorists or whatever) pushed passed security, broke into the capital, fired shots, and held our congress at bay for hours. This isn’t the America I’m used to. This isn’t what I thought would happen for the counting of the votes. These images will be burned into my head along with the Berlin Wall coming down, Challenger, and 9/11. I’m not going to get into the politics of what happened or who is to blame. That is for another avenue. Today, I want to focus on what it means to have our security shaken. Where do we go when we feel that all we know is broken and could be lost forever?

Well, if you are an avid reader of #faithbites, or go to church, you know the answer: Jesus!

Scripture

John 10:27-29 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Reflection

Some people use the term sheep in a derogative manner. Jesus uses it as we follow him and he takes care of us. I need to be taken care of right now. My shepherd has me and no one and nothing can take me out of his hand.

Even knowing this, even understanding that God reins above all, I am still nervous. We are part of this earth and not part of it. John 15:19 (yup, bonus scripture) says, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” The world is a scary place. There is a lack of security when our nation’s capital is attacked. We feel vulnerable when truth is hard to come by. We feel lost when our leaders mislead us and we don’t know how to act.

It’s at this time that I have to pray. Jesus is the one guiding me right now. It doesn’t matter the evidence given to persuade people to think otherwise in politics. Jesus it the way, the truth, and the light.

My sense of security in America is shaken but not gone. My sense of security in Jesus is rock solid. He will lead us out of this.

Now, we think about what happens tomorrow? What happens on January 20? How do we, as followers of Christ, react? How do we help others feel his sense of security and love? That is what we need to do. That is our challenge.

Prayer

May the blessings of the Lord be on you always. May you feel his hand, his presences, and his security, always. Lord, help us to not feel afraid and to know that you are God. Heal those injured. Help restore a sense of security in us. Remind us that you are always there, that you will always heal and protect us. Let us be your voice and heal this land. In your name, Amen.