Refuge & Fortress: Finding Security in Uncertain Times

As I look back on twenty-twenty, I see a year defined by uncertainty. The rug was ripped out from beneath our feet as the world spiralled into the chaos of a global pandemic. We sat alone in our homes, glued to our screens that showed us images of political strife, racial injustice, and sudden death. Many of our plans have been abruptly interrupted or ended. Those of us in our early twenties are panicked about how this is going to affect our future, or how we are supposed to live and grow in a time of isolation. Our future feels suspended in mid-air, cushioned by clouds of confusion. Nothing feels safe. Nothing feels sure.

The world has placed its fragility on full display and, ultimately, it has left many of us anxious and afraid in the face of all this instability and uncertainty.

For me, this creeping sense of insecurity began long before the pandemic hit. In 2019, I was trudging through the first semester of my final year of university. It dawned on me that I was reaching the end of my undergraduate degree with absolutely no idea what was going to happen next. I didn’t have a career path planned, just a few dreams and ideas that I started to have serious doubts about. Then, as the pandemic reached its peak around the time of my graduation, I felt further debilitated by all this uncertainty before me. I saw nothing when I closed my eyes to envision my future. Just an endless open road. For once in my life, I was completely and utterly directionless.

As someone who has always needed to know where I’m going, this experience has been a great challenge for me. Ultimately, it has led me to question where I run to for cover when life feels so out of control.

Where do I find shelter?

Where do I go to find security, safety, and stability?

Where do I find comfort and assurance?

In the midst of asking myself these questions, I realized just how much I relied on knowing what comes next. For so long, I always knew where I was headed. I knew I would graduate into high school and, later, from university. I had so many post-grad plans, but all of them fell through in the face of the pandemic. I panicked as I was abruptly tossed into the wilderness - the vast and chaotic unknown - with no sure end in sight. As uncomfortable as this has been, I know now that I needed to be in the mess to fully see the fragile things I was leaning for security. My comfort and stability were dependent upon knowing where I was going. It was found in the uninterrupted nature of my circumstances, the intimacy and approval of my friendships, my ability to write books, and to lead with excellence.

I realized that my security was rooted in things that fade and crumble and change. It was grounded in everything other than Jesus Christ, the one who promised to be my forever.

This was a convicting revelation to come to, but, in it, I found so much peace. I found comfort in embracing the truth that we cannot find our security and stability in anything other than Jesus Christ. This pandemic has reminded all of us that life in this world is crazy; things fade and change within a breath. We cannot keep grasping for reeds that break to keep us afloat when we’re caught in the current. Our hands must grasp for something solid and sure, an eternal rock unaltered by time. We must lean upon a friend who will remain unchanged and steadfast through the turmoil.

The Bible promises us that this person is Jesus.

In Hebrews 13:8, it says that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” John the Baptist declared that Christ was with God in the beginning of time (John 1:1). The author of Lamentations says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end…” (Lamentations 3:22). The book of Revelation proclaims that Christ is the “Alpha and Omega…who is and was and who is to come…” (Revelation 1:8). Even Paul in Romans writes, there is no “height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation” that “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39).

In fact, throughout the entirety of Scripture, we are told that the only place we will find true security is in Jesus. It is in the love of God revealed through the death and resurrection of Christ. It is in the promise that I have been saved by His grace, adopted into His eternal kingdom, and that, one day, He will return to fully restore every broken thing in this world, including me.

I have returned to this truth multiple times within the last couple of months, especially as the lockdowns prevail in my region and as my career plans still feel so up-in-the-air. These days, I have felt so divided and uncertain about many things in my life. But the only thing I am absolutely sure of is Jesus. My dear reader, we cannot find shelter in the sinking home built upon the sand or one that is built upon a weathered foundation. We must find cover in the arms of our saviour. We must run to our Rock, to the steadfast love of the Lord who created heaven and earth, and who is with us through all this turmoil and confusion. We cannot keep trusting in fragile things for security and wholeness. We must find it in Christ alone.

This is not an attitude that can be adopted overnight. It takes work, time, and patience to allow this posture to sink into your heart and to pour out into action. It's a battle and a process. There have been many practical steps that I have taken that have helped me absorb the truth that Jesus is my security. I've found that returning to and praying through the Gospel each morning has helped immensely. For me, writing out those prayers, taking time to process, and digest the truth of the good news has given me peace each new day. Another habit I have tried to implement is turning to the Psalms, specifically the ones that echo these truths I've outlined above, such as Psalm 91. There are many other things we can do too that will help us cultivate a heart that knows it's secure in Christ. We just need to accept that it's true. We need to accept that the time and effort we set aside to do this is worth it.

Because, truly, it is. God promises to be our shelter - our safety, peace, and stability. We can find true security in knowing and trusting that our salvation is guarded by the love and grace of Jesus. We can face each new and uncertain day by trusting in His promises. God desires for us to run to Him. He delights in each moment we turn to His embrace and acknowledge that we need Him.

As King David writes in Psalm 62:

"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

(Psalm 62:1-2)

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(Note to Reader: I hope you stick around for more posts from me as I embark on this journey of exploring my passion for art and faith through my writing to encourage others in their creative pursuits. Please know, Reader, that you are welcome here. No matter who you are. No matter your personal beliefs. I’d like to emphasize that everything in this post is based upon my own opinion, interpretation, and experience. I have qualifications, but I’d hardly call myself an expert. My hope is that in sharing my thoughts and story that you would find encouragement or inspiration through my words. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me! I’d love to connect with you!)