Our minds are a wonderful resource that God has given us, but sometimes they can play tricks on us. This can specifically happen when we see evil things befalling others. If we dwell on what we see, we can start worrying about the same thing happening to us. However, trusting in God’s promise to protect His children gives us not only that protection, but also peace of mind as well.
Always thinking the worst develops a fear-based consciousness that causes us to focus on our weaknesses and vulnerabilities. It makes us wish we had protection against evil visiting us, and we forget that we already have it because of the finished works of Jesus. Sometimes bad things happen as a result of what others do; sometimes they’re the result of our own choices. Regardless, God’s will for us is good, not bad. “‘For I know the plans I have for you’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT).
We have a choice as to whether we believe this or not, but agreeing with what God says brings us a peace we can’t get from the world. “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory” (Romans 5:1, 2, NLT). Whether we think we deserve it or not, God offers us protection in Him through His favor toward us. Real safety and security come only from Him.
Developing a relationship with Jesus and walking through life with Him not only gives us perfect safety in dangerous situations, but also makes us righteous in God’s eyes. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in the past; Jesus is willing to accept us the way we are, right now. Putting God first distinguishes the righteous from the foolish. “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour” (Proverbs 14:9).
We have security knowing that we’re in God’s hands and that He delivers the righteous from any bad situation. We can learn a lesson from the Old Testament story of Job, who always anticipated something bad happening. His thoughts were powerful enough to bring to pass the very thing he feared, but in the end, God delivered him from evil and restored to him double what he lost. God will never let us down when we rely on Him for our safety. “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (2 Timothy 4:18, NKJV).
When we feel our weakest and most vulnerable, focusing on God’s love and His pledge to protect us from harm puts our minds at ease. Leaning in and meditating on what He says to us is good for our souls and spirits. God shows mercy and grace to those who trust Him, and we know that we have nothing to fear when He’s watching over us. Get ready: something good is about to happen!
