The Safest Place to Be

It’s one of those common Christian sayings that’s floating around (it’s been said to me and I have said it as well):

The safest place to be is in the will of God.

I understand the intent behind the saying, but it’s got me thinking: is it true? There are many sayings that we repeat without thinking about what they mean, but accept them because they’re so common and comfortable and, well, they could be true. When I hear this particular one, something just seems off about it. Is God’s will really the safest place to be? Not necessarily. And I think the Bible and life experience proves otherwise.

First of all, God’s main concern isn’t for our safety. He is primarily concerned with making much of Christ through and in us. So safety isn’t everything. My safety isn’t always my good. (This doesn’t mean that you don’t try to walk in wisdom or that you seek out trouble and hardship, but it does mean that comfort and safety are not to be our primary goals and concern.) Just look at some examples in the Bible. Joseph was sold by his brothers to be a slave in Egypt and then he was imprisoned for something he didn’t do. The Prophet Elijah was on the king and queen’s most wanted list, especially after ridiculing their gods and priests. He had to run for his life. The Apostle Paul was shipwrecked, imprisoned, beaten, bitten by a viper, stoned, mobbed, and the list goes on (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). His life was not one that was characterized by safety. There are many, many other examples. The list could go on and on: David, Daniel, Peter, James, Stephen. All of their lives were meant to display the greatness of Christ and all of the unsafe situations they were in were meant for their good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Then there is Jesus Himself. Jesus, the perfect Man, the Son of God, God in the flesh, was constantly in danger. And He was always perfectly in God’s will (John 8:29). The religious leaders and sometimes the crowds wanted Him dead. Eventually, when the time was right according to God, they got their wish. Jesus was beaten beyond recognition and then nailed to a cross where He died. He was not concerned with safety; He was concerned with accomplishing the Father’s will. And it’s a good thing for us that He was; otherwise, we would be left in our sins, separated from God, destined for hell. But He gives us life. And we believers are called to be like Him in every way.

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40

So, yes, in one sense, the safest place to be is in God’s will. God’s will is for us to know Christ. He alone keeps us eternally safe from the wrath of God. God's will is also for us to make much of Christ and to make Him known, and, sometimes, in order for that to happen, we must suffer, we must be "unsafe." So maybe the better phrase to use would be, “The best place to be is in the will of God.” It’s not easy. It’s not comfortable and it’s definitely not safe. But it is best.

"Is he [Aslan]—quite safe?" […]
"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver [...] "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you." C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia