After a flight, a ferry, and a drive through the pines, the haven felt far away from the fury of the morning news. Cold, salty wind filled my chest in one deep breath. Sea gull sounds mixed with tidal rhythms in a peaceful background track so different than the loud worries of the world. It was all so still and restorative, until it wasn’t.
The unexpected roar of fighter jets overhead interrupted our retreat. I quickly learned that our soothing sanctuary was also home to a military base, with local pilots part of a global conflict. Is there a place to feel safe and reassured in a time of conflict?
There is one place where we can always find a sense of safety and certainty.
God’s presence is powerful, just, compassionate, and accessible.
- Power – The “throne” of God is a place where the One with all authority over every other ruler sits. “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19)
- Justice – We shake our heads in wonder at the acts of human leaders. Trying to make sense of decisions and plans we only view in part from a distance, we’re unable to discern the motives of people with power. In contrast, we can know when it comes to God’s role with us as, “righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.” (Psalm 97:2b)
- Compassion – Unlike an intimidating or foreboding seat of power, the throne of God is a place of compassionate concern and comfort. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:13)
- Access – Few of us will ever access the earthly chambers of power or influence. But God has an “open invitation” policy, an attitude of welcome and reception. He doesn’t sneer at us with condescension or contempt. He urges us to come up close to Him, to know Him and be known, to lay out our worries and our longings for peace. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Perhaps more than one place, safety is found in one person.
The Edelman Trust Barometer looks at how trust is changing each year. At the end of 2025, surveys produced insights that revealed 7 in 10 people are not willing, or they’re at least hesitant, to trust someone from a different background or with different values. People are retreating into smaller and smaller “circles of trust” where they find familiarity and sameness. Only 32% of those who participated have hope that life will improve for their families in five years. The decline of trust means we feel more anxious and less safe.
- The writer of Psalm 94 says that, “When my anxious thoughts multiplied, your comfort filled my soul with joy … But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.”
We don’t have to look for or listen long in today’s landscape to see and hear reasons that could stir up our sense of uncertainty and fear. “Where can we turn?” we wonder. “Is there a safe place left?” we ask. And God answers that He is still the reliable, strong Father we can trust and depend on for help.
- God intentionally moves away from a power distance and, instead, leans in to be near to us. “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
The powerful One we can trust to be just, compassionate, and accessible takes our hand and pulls us close. He wants us to let go of our pockets or rebellion so nothing puts a barrier between us and Him. God wants us to ask, “What needs to change so I can be near?”
We might not have full faith when we start the act of pulling close, but He’ll help that to grow too. He’ll do the work of cleaning away the darkness that threatens our sense of peace and safety. When we clear the distractions and compromises out of our hearts, our view of God becomes clearer, and our sense of His safety becomes more certain.
- “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded,” (James 4:8)
- “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean …” (Hebrews 10:22)
Where can we be certain to find peace and safety?
We find safety in coming close to and staying near to our God, the One who deserves our trust.
Nearness. Safety.
“You who abide in the shelter of the Most High, who rest in the shadow of the Almighty, say to the Lord, ‘You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I place my trust.’” (Psalm 91:1-2)
When the noise and conflict of the world around us invades our quiet spaces and sanctuary places, God wants to be our strong place and our security. This means safety in an emotional and physical sense, giving us protection from anxiety, loneliness, and fear.
Perhaps more than simply proximity, safety is found in our relational posture with the Heavenly Father who invites us close. If you feel far from Him in these frantic times, you don’t have to.
Here’s how to start to lean in to an intimate relationship with God that leads to safety and certainty.
- Get to a quiet place without interruptions (like fighter jets) so you can speak and listen.
- Tell God (out loud or quietly in your heart) what you’re feeling and what you hope.
- If you’re an artist or a writer, draw or write the questions you have.
- Ask God your questions and for guidance in what it means to move near to Him.
- Choose one of these Psalms to read from this post. You might start with a five minute read for now; add another as you feel ready. Psalm 91, Psalm 94, Psalm 97, Psalm 103, or Psalm 145 (just click a Psalm to read it).
Friend, the jets may still fly overhead, but we don’t have to give them the power to steal our peace. If you took these steps and want to talk about what happened or what’s next, message me. I’d love to listen and encourage you as you come to the one place you can feel safe and certain – near to God.
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