Leaning in peace

Today I saw a post on Facebook by a cousin of mine.

She had a baby boy a couple of years ago, and she is only a tad bit younger than I.

Apparently, in his sweet toddler way, this baby has learned to sing, "Safe and secure from all alarms."

Today, on the brink of my youngest moving out (not going to school, mind you, just moving out), the story of my cousin's little son hits me in many ways.

Her boy is small.  She can hold him and rock him to sleep.  My boy is 6'4" -- all I can do is pat his arm, and that probably annoys him.

Safe.  Secure.  These are not words I associate with my day today (or my upcoming weeks and months).  I cannot keep my boy safe and secure.

Of course, I never could.  But still.  There were times when it certainly felt as though I could.

Am I alarmed?

I have been.  I have been very alarmed.  Frightened.  Sick to my stomach.  Distraught.

God is at work.  He always is.  He does not slumber or sleep.  He does not take his hands off the world.  He is always present, always in control and (imagine!) never worried!

God is not worried about this.

What's more, in His goodness, He has been preparing me for this.  On my birthday, three weeks before events began to unfold, He gave me the verse He knew I would need:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.
~John 14:27

Throughout November, God cultivated gratitude in me and taught me to have a thankful heart.  I believe He did this partly so that I could be anxious for nothing but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present my requests to God and have the peace of God which transcends all understanding guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)


I will lean on His everlasting arms.  He will not drop me.  No, He will not.

1. What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms;
   What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.
   • Refrain:
     Leaning, leaning,
     Safe and secure from all alarms;
     Leaning, leaning,
     Leaning on the everlasting arms.
2. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms;
   Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.
3. What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms?
   I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.

I really especially like that third verse.