The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon

“God is our refuge and strength, a very ready help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes and the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.”

—Psalm 46:1–3

Years ago, I was looking for an apartment with a roommate who preferred a gated complex. “Gates don’t really keep people out,” I said. “It’s just an illusion of safety.” “Well, then,” she replied, “I’d like the highest illusion of safety possible.”

The world is not a safe place. Even when we think we’re in control and protected, things can change in the blink of an eye.

We’re never actually in control. God is, and has always been, our only sure refuge.

When things are going smoothly and it seems like everything is under control, it’s easy to trust in our environment and circumstances instead of in him; we begin to trust that illusion of safety.

We should invest in our lives—we’re instructed to be hard workers and to build relationships—but we shouldn’t begin to trust in security, wealth, or relationships more than we trust our God. We must hold all of this world loosely, willing to give it up at the Lord’s prompting. He may call us to leave everything familiar behind, as Abraham did (Genesis 12:1; Hebrews 11:8).

When God is our refuge and strength, our faith will remain even if we lose earthly security, wealth, or relationships. It will remain even when the earth gives way, the mountains move, and the waters roar.

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