We all have illusions about natural security. Security is never absolute. Windows of a home can be broken to gain entry even when all the doors have been locked. A big bay window or a sliding glass door can fall victim to a rock allowing a drugged-up intruder to enter a home and do violence. Bars on doors can be cut. Alarms can be defeated. Locks can be picked. Fault lines will eventually produce devastating earthquakes. The sun, a burning star, will someday be extinguished. Pick your illusion of security. None of them are absolute. They are illusions.

While it is not illogical to prepare for a violation of the perimeter of our life, there is a deeper level of security that must be implemented, or all our other sensible preparations will devolve into an obsessive fear of what could happen.

Paul instructed the Ephesians, “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (6:13). When you have made all the security preparations in this life that a sensible person would make, both physical and spiritual preparations, our ultimate ability to stand without fear when we are surrounded by increasing levels of turmoil and violence is linked to our trust in God. As Psalm 91 tells us “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

There is a great deal taking place in our world that would cause a sane and informed person to have a concern. At some point though, having done all we can to create a buffer against evil, we must place our trust in God, or our joy will be robbed. A life without an ultimate trust in God gives Satan access to our lives allowing him to enter plunder our joy and pillage our trust as he wishes. The strongest security perimeter is constructed around our hearts. The materials we use to construct that perimeter are made up of trust, joy, and hope. Those are the surest and strongest materials we can use to make our lives safe in uncertain times.