You Will Be Safe in His Arms

I know that there are many of you who follow this blog for a number of reasons. Some people just like to know that I'm alive, some of you think the humanitarian work is interesting, and some want updates on my spiritual life here. (Everyone likes the pictures of cute kids, though. That's universal). This post is going to be pretty heavy on the God stuff, and I hope I have the right words.

I've always felt like Haiti is the one place where my faith has been the strongest. I wouldn't say that it's easy to rely on God here, but more like it's the only option. In a country where there is so much poverty and need, it's easier to realize that I, by myself, can't fix it. I need to trust in a God who has a plan, and who loves the children that I hold in my heart even more than I do.

Every morning and every evening, we gather around the pool for devotions. These are some of my favorite parts of the day. So often, it seems like God is speaking directly to me, addressing my struggles and doubts through whoever is speaking. Last week, we sang a song that has been with me ever since, so I'm going to post part of it here and share it with you. It's called "Safe" by Phil Wickham.

You will be safe in His arms, You will be safe in His arms
The hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made, He will be with you always
When everything is falling apart, You will be safe in His arms

I love my life here in Haiti. I love seeing my children every morning and hugging them and playing with them and seeing them smile. There are so many wonderful, beautiful, amazing things that happen here on a daily basis where I see God at work and I see good things happening.

At the same time, I see so much pain and suffering that it sometimes takes my breath away. I see beautiful, smart, kind children living in situations that are unfathomable unless you've seen them. I see children who are desperately hungry for love and affection, and children who don't know what to do except lash out. I see children who want me to walk them home, but I have to say no because that would be unsafe for me, and I have to send them to travel those unsafe roads by themselves.

It's those hard moments when I have to believe that God isn't just present at camp when we teach Bible stories and tell these precious children that God loves them, which he does more than I ever could. God goes with them as they go home, and he has a plan for each and every child that I see come through our gate. In this world, there is no guarantee of safety, whether you live in the USA, Haiti, or anywhere else. Bad things will happen, and often we won't understand why. God never promised us a perfect world - that's only in heaven. But His promise, like the song says, is that He will be with us always. No matter what. When things are hard, when things are easy, God is our constant.

It's technically my job to teach these children English every day. More than that, what I wake up every morning planning to do is pour love into them, and be the hands and feet of Jesus as I serve them. I want them to know that I love them, but more importantly, God loves them and will never leave them. They know the God who created the universe, because that's what they hear about in Bible stories, but I want them to know that, just like the song says, those same hands that brought a world care equally about them. We might feel small or insignificant, but to God, we're just as important as anything that He's created.

Many people ask me if I feel safe in Haiti. It might seem naive, but I've never really thought that much about how safe I am. Something that Byron & Shelley have always said is that the safest place to be is wherever God has called you. I've never really been much for "callings" and "signs" from God, mostly because I think people tend to read too much into things and start manipulating everyday events to fit what they see as God's plan. That being said, I believe that God puts things on your heart for a reason, and if there's one thing I'm sure of it's that God placed Haiti on my heart. I know that I'm supposed to be here, with these children, showing them the love of Jesus.

More than that, no matter where you are, whether it's a Third World country or a wealthy American suburb, as long as you're in God's arms, there is no safer place to be. It's that message that I'm trying to remember and reflect as I look into beautiful, smiling faces, and see the joy and strength of this country rather than the pain and suffering. They are safe in God's arms, just like I am, and He is always, always with them.