On Sept. 11, 2001, the twin towers of the World Trade Center collapsed after terrorists hijacked and flew two commercial jets into the buildings. In an instant, the world changed. Our country has not been the same since. 

In 2016, an NBC/Wall Street Journal survey found that 47 percent of Americans believe the country is less safe now than before Sept. 11, 2001. On the eve of World War II, Franklin Delano Roosevelt said to the nation, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” It was an effort to motivate and comfort the country. But human beings have always struggled with fear, especially when they feel unsafe.

According to Pew Research, 64 percent of Americans have experienced a major personal data breach. In a 2015 Chapman University survey, the top four fears voiced by Americans were corruption of government officials (58 percent), cyberterrorism (44.8 percent), the tracking of personal information (44.6 percent), and terrorist attacks (44.4 percent). (It is also worth noting in that survey that 86 percent of people believed that having an emergency response kit would improve their chances of surviving a natural disaster. However, 72 percent did not own a kit.)

On Aug. 29, 2005, more than 50 levees and flood walls failed in New Orleans, causing 80 percent of the city to flood. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary was flooded. The eventual cost of restoring the campus exceeded $50 million. Following that disaster, Chuck Kelley, president of the seminary, spoke at various places across the country, including Anderson University. In the context of the flood experience at the seminary, he stated, “We are not here to be comfortable. We are not here to be safe. We are secure in Christ Jesus.”

Has anybody ever been completely safe? Was Jesus, Paul, Martin Luther, Lottie Moon or others? Are you safe? The fact is, we have never lived in a safe world. We are in control of very little.

Several years ago, I was attending a continuing education event at the University of Georgia where I met a psychiatrist from California. One day he asked me, “Who do you think are the really crazy people in the world?” I did not venture a guess, so he responded with, “The people who actually think they are in control of something!”

Because God is sovereign, we do not need to try to be. I used to have a sign on my wall that read, “Relax. God is in charge.” We want to be as safe as we can, but accidents, disasters, etc., do happen. There is so much in life we cannot plan or predict, but we can be secure in Christ regardless of what happens.

Security is a hot topic today in nearly every segment of society. A political candidate recently said, “The most important job of Congress is to keep America safe.” Congressman Ralph Norman from Rock Hill said recently, “Nobody in this country is safe.” While people may debate various security/safety needs, the truth remains: You and I can never be fully safe in this world.

When we feel insecure or unsafe, there is the tendency to be fearful. What can we do when we are afraid? Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.” Through trusting Christ, we discover peace of mind and find real love and belonging. Bad things do happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people. God causes His rain to fall on the just and the unjust. But when we walk with Christ, the dangers we encounter are recognized as part of the reality of life in this world. Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me.” There is no promise that we will not face evil, but there is the assurance that we do not have to live in fear.

The old hymn, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” is comforting. We may experience injustice, pain, injury, sorrow or even death. But death is not the victor. Jesus is. Safety and security in this world are something we may desire, and may even attempt to have. But the greatest safety that endures forever is in our Lord. 

John 10:27-28 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.” Now, that is security — regardless of what may happen.