It’s been a heavy week for our country. If you’re like me, the news of the tragic events in Parkland, Florida last week felt all too familiar. Like another devastating story in a cascading series of stories that seem to be happening more and more frequently. It’s heartbreaking.

And if we’re honest, it’s also scary… During times like these, how can we possibly feel safe?

I was reading Psalm 3 today and was reminded of a scary time in King David’s life – a time when the walls were closing in on him quite literally… 12,000 men chasing him into the wilderness to kill him. And it’s in this context that David makes this claim about God…

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter 
of my head…” (v.3)

Later in the chapter, he says this…

“I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around…” (v.5-6)

How can you be serious, David??? The armies of Absalom are chasing you – you’re outmanned, outgunned, you have nowhere to go! How can you possibly lie down and sleep in peace in such conditions? And then we hear David say this…

“Salvation belongs to the Lord…” (v.8)

Ah, that’s the secret. You see, David really believed that God was in control. And that made David able to say, “God is our refuge…” (Psalm 46:1)

May God make us, more and more, into men and women who trust Him in this way. He is our refuge, “a very present help in trouble.”

Grace and Peace,

Matt Murphy
Teaching & Staff Pastor

P.S. For those of you who are interested, we’ve recently worked with the Fire Marshal to update our emergency response protocol in the following ways:

When there is a fire alarm, the staff and leaders responding in our Grace Kids areas will be gathering children to the exit doors, but not exiting the building until either signs of a fire are detected or our leaders are instructed to leave by the emergency response team. This is to ensure that there are no threats outside the building that could pose a risk to child safety, prior to opening the doors.

We are always seeking to learn how we can be more proactive and intentional about child safety. In light of recent events, we feel this is a prudent step to take. For any questions, please feel free to respond to our Director of Administration and Finance, Dan Miller, or Children’s Ministry Director, Jennifer Daniel.