The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. Psalm 27:1-3

 

Did you know that feeling safe is key to unlocking your courage and intelligence?

 

Scientists have found that before people can adequately access the parts of their brains that deal with emotions, connection, and problem-solving, they first need to feel safe[1]. When we feel unsafe, our brains can only function in fight or flight mode, essentially shutting down everything else.

 

This tells us that God made us to need safety to live at our full capacity. We need the security of God’s love, faith in His goodness, the peace of His presence, and the hope of His promises to be who He made us to be.

 

No wonder King David of the Bible often sings about the safety He found in God when facing threats and attacks! Many of the songs David wrote begin with panicky despair but there’s a shift when David starts reminding Himself who God is and of the safety of trusting in Him. In Psalm 27 David says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? (Psalm 27:1-3).

 

A young girl had been having nightmares. One day she heard about King David’s Psalm 91, and memorized it, saying it to herself when she woke up scared. Within days the nightmares stopped, and she had a new confidence about what to do if they returned.

 

As we find peace and safety in God, we unlock love, confidence, and even the ability to problem solve. You were made to function out of a place of trust and peace found only in Jesus.

 

[1] Bailey, Becky. “Brain State Model.” Conscious Discipline, 3 July 2021, https://consciousdiscipline.com/methodology/brain-state-model/#tab_survivalstate.