It was a few years ago. I was sitting at my desk at home in Oklahoma, leading another group of mommas through an online study of my book Peace: Hope and Healing for the Anxious Momma’s Heart. We were halfway through a six-week study, and that night I was teaching from Psalm 91, focusing on the Lord’s promised protection for those He loves.

Having led previous groups through the same study, I knew this was the week that seemed to bring tremendous healing for many mommas who took that course. Why? Because as mommas, we often run ourselves ragged trying our best to keep our kids safe. Some of us feel we can never stop and never rest and must always keep an eye out for all the dan- ger our kids might ever face. As if then they’d be safe. As if we could prevent every bad thing from happening even though Jesus said in Matthew 6:27 that we cannot add an hour to our lives (or the lives of our children) by worrying about them. The good news is that Psalm 91 reminds us that we aren’t the only ones keeping watch over our children.

In Psalm 91:14–16, we read:

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.

When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.

I will rescue and honor them.

I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” (nlt)

It’s a relief to remember that the Lord says He is the protector of those who trust in His name. It brings my heart so much peace to remember that God rescues those He loves, because I become easily exhausted worrying about everything, and I bet you do too.

From the time our babies are little, we worry, and it just doesn’t seem to stop as they grow. Is this car seat going to keep them safe? Is it safe for my baby to play with this toy, sleep in this position, eat this food? Is it safe for us to go to this park, or should we go to a different one? Is it safe for my daughter to have access to that feature on her phone? Is it safe for my son to drive home from college this weekend? Are my grown children safe? Safe. Safe. Safe.

No group of women on earth is more keenly aware of the dangers of this world than mommas. We don’t need to turn on the news. We don’t need stories from across the country or globe. We know from the events that have unfolded in our own lives that there are real dangers that often keep us up at night. Yet we have the eternal promises found in Psalm 91 from a God who said He would rescue those who love Him.

I suppose that’s why one momma’s comment during that live teaching session grabbed my attention that night. As I was talking about the Lord’s protection and our ability as mommas to find rest in Him as protector, her question in the comments section popped up on my screen.

But our kids aren’t always safe. Are they?

In the middle of many messages from other women saying, “Wow!” “I needed this!” “I’m so glad the Lord goes with my kids even when I can’t!” and “I’m so grateful God loves my children even more than I do!” I saw her words and heard the pain in her heart: “But our kids aren’t always safe. Are they?” I knew the answer. So did she. So do you and every other momma in that group and every momma who has ever clung to the promise of the Lord to protect those she loves.

Sigh.

No.

The very hard truth is that the world is not safe…at least, it’s not safe in the way we might define the word. Brokenness entered all our stories back in the garden we were made for yet never got to live in. Jesus made a way for us to be together, but suffering and sadness and tragedy will continue until His final return. And because of that . . .

Sometimes the worst happens. Sometimes the unthinkable reaches right past our front doors. Sometimes we pray and trust, and the outcome isn’t what we wanted. Sometimes hard and horrible things happen even while we are clinging to the Word of God and believing Him for a miracle. Sometimes it seems as if no one is safe, and because no one is safe, we can never rest. We wonder: How do I actually put my trust in the Lord to protect my family and me in a world where pain is still part of our story?

How can I really trust Him?

That’s the question that sweet momma in the online study was asking that night. That’s the question perhaps you’re wondering even now.

My friend, I believe you already know the answer too. So let me simply remind you. It’s tucked right there in the middle of Psalm 91:

 When they call on me, I will answer;

I will be with them in trouble. (v. 15 nlt)

Momma, maybe like Peter, you have learned the lesson of Matthew 8. You know you serve a God who calms storms.

You’ve seen Him do it in the past, so you confidently follow Him right onto the waves. But perhaps that second lesson Peter learned, the one found in Matthew 14, is the one we both need to hold on to in this far-from-perfect world. Peace doesn’t just come when the winds cease and there are blue skies. Peace is found in the presence of Jesus, who paid the highest price to hold us through every storm.

I want you to think about your own children for just one moment. Think about how you’d do absolutely anything to be with them if they were facing trouble. From the moment you first held them in your arms, you’d move heaven and earth if it meant keeping them from feeling alone in their fear or pain or uncertainty.

How many times do we call out as mommas, “I’m here! I’m here!” before we reach our children’s bedrooms in the middle of the night? How many times do we pull our kids close (at any age) to reassure them, “It’s okay. We’ll figure this out together”?

Momma, how much more must our heavenly Father call out to us in His perfect love? I’m here! I’m here! You’re not alone. It cost Him everything to make sure He was in the boat with you. So how can we question His love? How can we question His goodness? How can we wonder if He cares about what we’re facing when He willingly laid down His life to make sure we are safely held for eternity, beginning the moment He took us in His arms?

My friend, He didn’t leave you. Even when you were going through it, He didn’t leave you. Even when your child or your spouse or your friend or your family member was in the midst of that storm, He didn’t leave them. And if your heart is wondering why and your faith feels shaky and you’ve doubted His goodness and love because of those very hard, very painful parts of your story, then I’m asking you to reconsider what it means to be safe and how you might truly be able to rest if you knew that, no matter what comes, He is in the boat with you. No matter how your story unfolds, every day of your life and for the rest of eternity, you are forever safely held.