Security in a Stormy World on Fire

On Finding a Secure Connection

Photo by Caleb Kastein on Unsplash

I shut off the television news, images ricocheting in my brain:  fiery explosions of war, homes washed away, families in need, hungry children enduring famine, boasting politicians, pointless death and destruction. It’s times like these when heaviness clings like gel to the soul.

Golden evening light beckoned me outside. I shoved my left hand into the usual pocket for my earbuds but came up empty.

I ran upstairs and checked through dirty items in the laundry basket, squeezing pockets hoping to find something solid.

“Rats, not here,” I grumbled, tromping down the stairs. This frantic search for misplaced earbuds seemed to happen more frequently these days.

“Honey, have you seen my earbuds anywhere? I lost them again.” I rummaged through my desk drawer and then fished through jacket pockets in the hall closet.

“I got you a spare set. Can’t you use those?” came his reply.

Sheepish, I turned to look at him. “Well, that pair’s missing too…” I admitted.

“They’ve gone through the wash before—did you check there?” he reminded. I often forget to remove my earbuds from my pockets, so I’m amazed when they come through both washer and dryer still working.

“Nope, I didn’t do laundry today. Shoot, I need them for my walk!” Frustrated, I rifled through the pile of recyclables by the garage door and then checked the bathroom. My search wasted time—soon it would be twilight.

“They always show up,” he soothed.

“You don’t understand! Those earbuds are like my security blanket! I need them to handle my stress.”

Listening to myself, I cringed. In light of the massive problems in our world, this was so minor. How ridiculous to think I couldn’t walk without earbuds. I gave up the search and headed to my car.

For me, earbuds are synonymous with worship music, which focuses my mind on Christ. I need that reminder that the God of the universe is seated on his throne in control when the entire world spins out. Keeping them within reach allows me to recenter my mind as needed.

Still, I don’t want to depend on a crutch like physical earbuds for personal peace. Like Linus in the Christmas “Peanuts” production, maybe it was time to drop my “security blanket”.

I drove to the park near our home. Should I walk with music blaring from my pocket, OR simply listen and talk with God? I chose the latter, figuring the silence forced me to practice my listening skills.

As I skirted the lakes in silence, God’s presence settled over my soul. He reminded me that he is much more than a security blanket in a world out of control. He IS my SECURITY, not the things or music I lean on.

God is a real person offering a real relationship with eternal hope. Someone I can walk with, talk with, and listen and respond to. How remarkable that God, who keeps our spinning world on its axis, desires to spend time with me!

Whether it’s a “worship walk” or a “walk and talk” with God, I crave these opportunities to commune with my Creator. But I’ve found that silence in our noisy world always benefits me most.

I lift up my concerns in a world spinning out of control, and His Spirit reminds me that He is present and at work. And snippets of Bible verses usually come to mind—like how God’s thoughts are so far above my own (Isaiah 55:8), and how Jesus reigns over all dominions, powers and authorities (Eph. 1:18-23).

Missing earbuds? Now I find it an invitation to undistracted time with God. Time so valuable that sometimes I purposely leave my earbuds behind.

Because no object in my pocket can replace a secure connection with Him, a security in this turbulent world that only Almighty God can give.

What about you? How do you handle the stressors of life? Let me know in the comments if you’d like!