safe – Amy Linnea

Rock & Refuge

Published on March 15, 2025March 15, 2025 by amylinneaLeave a comment

I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. Psalm 31:7-8

Isn’t God good? He sees our affliction. He knows our distress, yet He keeps us safe and sound.

Not only does He keep us safe, He sets us in a strong place.

Psalm 31 begins by David declaring refuge in God.

Putting his trust in God, and asking God to rescue him.

David declares “You are my rock and my fortress”, meaning God is his anchor and protection.

He reminds God “You take me out of the net…for You are my refuge”.

God has continually rescued David, like God has continually rescued you.

God has seen all of it. All of your life, God has seen.

Every moment of every day.

He has seen your deep distress wrapping your mind.

He has seen this, that, and every little bit.

But even while afflicted, David was not handed over to the enemy. God did not allow it.

And while you’ve been afflicted, God has not allowed you to be given over to the devil.

What do I mean?

While in deep dispair, are you still alive?

While struggling with the persecution of others, is your soul still rejoicing in the Lord?

While surrounded with impossible situations, are you still placing your hope and trust in God Almighty?

God has protected your soul from leaving the safety of His refuge.

God has kept you with Him, not allowing the devil to take all of you.

It might seem like the devil has had his way, but it could always be worse.

God could abandon you, and He has not.

He will not.

Instead of allowing the devil to take you away, God has set your feet in a broad place.

Meaning, you are safe.

Yes, keep asking God to rescue you.

Yes, keep begging God to redeem your situation.

But in the midst, thank God for His rock of refuge.

Thank God for seeing your affliction and the distress of your soul.

Thank Him for standing with you in his strong fortress.

Paul reminds us we are more than conquerers in Romans 8:37.

Are you?

You are if you keep yourself hidden in God as He works everything out.

We are more than conquerers through Him in all things, not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. (Oswald Chambers).

Photos by Ben Karpinski, Sead Dedić, Tim Oun, & Simon Berger on Unsplash

Secure Feet

Published on September 11, 2021June 14, 2023 by amylinnea1 Comment

He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:3-4

Remember the beginning?

The psalm starts by intentionally looking to God for help, acknowledging that our help comes from God, the Creator of all things.

And as we recognize our weakness, we know God will help us.

Why?

Because He made all things.

Even us.

Verse 3 goes on to describe His help.

God’s protection is secure.

Within Him, even your foot will stay still.

You will not fall down with God’s help.

When you ask Him to work through you, His purposes are fulfilled through you.

He will keep you within Him.

Safe.

Solid.

Secure.

But it gets better.

God does not sleep.

He’s always awake, helping us, protecting us, keeping us secure.

There will never be a time when God is not willing to help you.

Never a time when He won’t be with you.

The Lord keeps us.

Is there anything special you keep safe and secure?

That’s how God feels about us.

He keeps us safe within Him.

We may face unimaginable trials in this life, but we can rest assured God is always with us, keeping us with Him.

In the dead of night, God is there for you.

In the pit of despair, He’s there, too.

Whether on the first day of school or the last,

When new life arrives or goes,

When relationships flourish or suffer,

When wearing masks or not,

God is always present, even wanting to help you.

Reach out to Him.

Empty yourself of you, asking God to help you with absolutely everything.

We can do nothing without Him.

But with Him, we can do anything He asks of us.

God, who never sleeps, keeps us close.

And with Him helping you, your feet will stay securely planted just where He wants them.

Photos by Michał Parzuchowski, Brina Blum, & Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash

Hurled Upon

Published on August 28, 2021June 14, 2023 by amylinnea2 Comments

He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 2 Samuel 22:17-18

Insults, heard or implied.

Words that bring death.

When sitting near these toxic fumes, there’s not much we can do.

Especially when directed towards us.

They can explode out of nowhere.

Suddenly covering you with filth.

Covering you with filth you believe.

Covering you with lies you begin to agree with.

All from insults hurled towards you.

Like an arrow piercing your soul, words can carry death.

While they can carry death, the arrows don’t have to deliver death to you.

It’s your choice to accept the lies or not.

Your choice to keep the painful arrow stuck where it hit.

What is your other choice?

To yank it out, immediately forgiving the sender.

Impossible in your own strength.

Literally.

But that’s where God comes in for you.

When you ask God to cover you with His feathers, He will protect you.

Literally, He will.

Emotionally, and spiritually, He will cover you.

Protected by God, arrows will still come.

They will be hurled at you with frightening speed.

But – by choosing to ask God to keep you whole, you won’t absorb the arrow’s poison.

Sure, it will try to pierce your soul, spreading it’s toxic substance.

And until you are trained to immediately refuse with God’s help, it could hurt.

Even for awhile.

But every time you yank out the arrow, God’s peace will dispel the poison.

Even heal your wound.

But you must ask Him every single time.

And as you retrain your reactions to insults, God’s feathers will become stronger.

So strong, the arrows will fall away as they bump you.

Who are you going to believe?

An insulting arrow filled with someone’s jealousy, selfishness, or evil intention all filled with lies?

Or who God says that you are to Him?

Choose to remember Whose you are.

Choose to remember Who your Father is.

The One who desires to protect you from everything evil.

Humble yourself, and ask Him to protect you.

Protect your mind, body, soul, and spirit from anything not from Him.

Apart from God, we can do nothing, especially avoiding arrows filled with poison.

Psalm 121:7-8 reminds us that God will keep us from all evil.

He will even keep our lives.

Safe.

Secure.

Even more – He will keep our going out AND our coming back now and forever.

There’s nothing more we could possibly need.

Hurl away, people.

We’re ready.

Photos by Laura Crowe. Lindsey Duce, Gioele Fazzeri, & Denise Johnson on Unsplash

Other’s Opinions

Published on July 24, 2021June 14, 2023 by amylinneaLeave a comment

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He.” Isaiah 43:10

Why do we allow others to steal from us?

We allow others to step into our minds, stealing one of the most valuable items we own.

Our peace.

Which affects our security.

And our sense of being valued.

Securely loved.

Just for being us.

When we allow someone to take away our peace, we are choosing to believe their small opinion of us instead of God’s.

I’m not in any way referring to ill behavior on our part, justifying their words.

Normal, everyday annoyances.

Spouse not thinking of you first.

Or at all while they get coffee for themselves.

Or choose the agenda not asking for your input.

Children, who fly into anger at the drop of a hat, blaming you for their problems.

Neighbors who voice displeasure over your landscaping choice.

Bosses who praise the next person, passing over you most times.

Drivers who have zero consideration for your pressing need to merge.

Restaurants with distasteful food you still must pay for.

Everyday things.

Why do we allow little things to bore into our very souls, determining our moods?

We take those opinions, which are dependent upon the other person’s sour moods, as truth.

We accept them as truth over God’s.

Over what you know to be the absolute truth.

That you are loved.

Secure.

Precious in the sight of God.

Never alone.

Always covered.

Safe.

The next time you are tempted to agree with someone’s poor mood towards you, stop.

Brush it off.

And declare “none of this moves me“.

Perfect.

Photos by Timothy Eberly, Gabriel Jimenez, & Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Roots

Published on September 7, 2019June 9, 2023 by amylinnea2 Comments

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3

How do we deeply believe in God?

What does that look like?

Picture a tree.

You are that tree.

Ok, you can be any tree you like.

Personally, I like Maple trees.

I used to collect those twirly things as a girl and sell them.

Anyhow, where are the roots of a typical healthy tree?

Underground.

Safe and secure.

Solid.

Watered from deep below the surface.

Your faith is like this tree.

Trees with deep roots withstand the blows of life easier than trees with small shallow roots, that are visible on the surface.

How do you grow your roots under your tree?

How do you deepen your faith?

Remembering His faithfulness to you.

Praying for your family and friends.

Fellowship with others who confirm His words.

Diving into His Word, taking them into your heart.

Sharing His faithfulness with others.

Singing worship to God, reminding you of His greatness.

Searching for His fingerprint.

His fingerprints are all over your life if you simply pause to look.

All of these things remind you of His faithfulness and point you towards Him.

Every time you purpose your mind on Him, your roots grow deeper.

Don’t forget to look back, proving my theory.

Think about storms big and small when you were a new Christian.

Probably fell over a few times.

Think about life now.

Yes, we fall over sometimes, but I bet you’re stronger now.

Bet you’ve had some monster storms you’ve withstood with God’s help.

But you kept your faith through them.

Oh, not perfectly, of course, but you’re still here.

You still believe despite.

Trees don’t work to grow their roots.

It happens with time and water.

And just like a tree, your faith will grow with time and water.

Time spent in faithfulness to God and water from His word, fellowship with others, and praying.

Just as a majestic tree stands solidly on the ground, towering over the earth, your faith will stand solidly on this earth, towering over fear and life absent from God.

Photos by Aaron Burden, Richard Hodonicky, Silvestri Matteo, & vision webagency on Unsplash

God’s Continuing Provision

Published on April 6, 2019June 9, 2023 by amylinneaLeave a comment

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights. 
Deer are so nimble.
Unlike us.
We tend to fall.
A lot.
But deer rarely stumble.
God made them that way.
When we trust God, He will cause our feet to stay strong.
Firm.
Securely on the path He has opened for us.


He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 
God helps us fight.
He shows us what to do and just how to do it.
He gives us His incredible strength to accomplish great things.
Necessary things.
We are amazed at our strength when we are strong through Him.


You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. 
God helps us, saving us, shielding us.
We do not falter with His right hand steadying us.
Keeping us upright.
More than upright, but successfully tall.
Standing tall and unharmed.
Perfectly whole.


You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. Psalm 18:33-36
God creates the path and walks with me, guarding every step, ensuring I don’t fall. 
All I must do is trust His way, holding onto Him.
The way is unknown, every step taken in faith; however, it is very good. 
Why? 
Because God is perfect. 
God is good. 
I am His.
And He is mine.
Photos by Matt Palmer, Rebecca Prest,Guillaume Briard,Orlova Maria, & Karsten Würth (@inf1783) on Unsplash