The sudden silence in my car, as I drove alone, was broken with an “Oh no!” when I unintentionally touched my left earlobe. I forgot my earrings. My hand instinctively brushed my neck, confirming a fear lurking behind my conscious mind – I wasn’t wearing my necklace, the one with the cross pendant. This discovery paled in comparison to the stark reality I now faced. The necklace had become an “idol” – a source of misplaced security and reliance, rather than a symbol of faith.
This realization led me to reflect back on the story in 2 Samuel 15. I had read about David fleeing from his son Absalom. Zadok the priest and all the Levites arrived where David was, bearing the Ark of the Covenant. But David instructed him to carry it back into the city. No one expected this direction from David. They knew from past experiences that having the Ark of the Covenant of God with them ensured protection, favor, and victory. But they obeyed.
David’s actions showed his trust in God’s sovereignty and plan, rather than relying solely on the physical presence of the ark. He recognized that God’s will and presence were not bound to any object, but were with him regardless. David trusted in God’s sovereignty and will when he continued to say,
If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him. 2 Samuel 15:25b-26 (ESV)
Reflecting on this, gave me a lightbulb moment. Behind David’s weighty decision and instruction hid nuggets that were difficult to acknowledge but what God wanted me to learn.
This was a powerful lesson about the dangers of making earthly things into idols that replace our reliance on God. My sense of peace does not rely on my cross necklace or any symbol I wear or have. My peace comes from knowing that residing in me is the Prince of Peace.
I agree, it’ll take some time to undo the neural connections formed between my cross necklace and my sense of peace and security, but being aware of it is a good place to start. We can’t confront and correct things we don’t know. With the Holy Spirit in me, I know transformation can take place.
What about you, friend? Is there anything that you hold on to for peace and security other than God’s promise of His presence knowing that He is good? He is our only source of true peace. I’d encourage you to thoughtfully consider if there are any things in your own life that have taken the place of your full trust and dependence on God. Bringing those to Him with honesty and humility can be an important step in strengthening your relationship with Him.