Situational Awareness in a Fallen World

February 24, 2026 Gracie

The Importance of Situational Awareness in a Fallen World

This week I wanted to write about something that hits way too close to home.

Someone I know was almost taken against her will from a local store parking lot.

I know firsthand how horrific that could have turned out because an attempted kidnapping also happened to a friend of mine in Houston . . . and to me (more about that later).

Christian or not – the importance of having situational awareness can not be overstressed.

I’m sure you’ve seen the same disturbing headlines that I have regarding violent crime.

Men, women, or children – no one is immune to the possibility of dangerous encounters with evil people in this world.

Sadly, I know there are some people who still think that violent crime would never happen in their small town.

And, granted, there’s a delicate balance between showing Christian kindness to strangers, but also keeping yourself safe.

The fact is we are living in a fallen world with evil people in it.

Is that being negative? No, it’s being smart.

Situational awareness in a fallen world is absolutely essential.

Otherwise, ignoring your God-given red flags could result in you or your loved ones becoming a heartbreaking statistic.

Situational Awareness: Fear Can Be A Gift

Situational awareness in a fallen world

Although my own dangerous encounter happened years ago, I’ve never forgotten about it.

I had just finished my grocery shopping and was taking my bags out to the car.

As I approached, I saw an old beat-up vehicle back up into the open parking spot right next to my car. Two guys were just sitting in it staring at me.

Thank You Lord that my red flags started going off.

In retrospect, I should have just turned around and gone back inside the store to ask for a store manager to accompany me, but I didn’t.

In what could have been a terrible mistake, I walked to my car anyway and tried to get my grocery bags into the hatchback as quickly as I could.

That was when the driver got out, walked around his car and started coming towards me.

I didn’t even hear his door open and yet all of a sudden he was there.

The other guy in the passenger seat was looking down and acting awfully strange.

The driver walking towards me said something about having some perfume for sale that he wanted to show me.

It was at that instant that something I learned about in a self-defense class kicked in.

As loud as I could I yelled “NO” – loud enough that other shoppers could hear me.

I could tell the bad guy was startled by my loud outburst. That gave me a few precious seconds to unlock my car and get in as fast as I could.

He turned around quickly got in his car and he and his partner immediately drove off.

Petrified, I remember calling my husband and the police to report what could have been the worst day of my life.

A recommendation online said that if you are approached in a parking lot and you feel those red flags coming on, you could say something like, “STOP! You need to back up, I don’t know you.”

Suffice all this to say – being situationally aware could save your life.

Situational Awareness: Bathrooms in Public Places

Situational awareness in public places

Thankfully, I have a husband who will stand outside a public ladies restroom if I have to go inside.

Why not the same for parents and kids at their sports activities?

The other day I saw a video of a mom who said that, at her kid’s games, even if she has the public restroom in her line of sight from the bleachers, she will always go with her child to the restroom.

Not only that, she will check it out inside before she allows her child to walk in.

Why? Because someone could be lurking inside one of the other stalls.

Look, I hate talking about this kind of stuff, but the truth is that evil is all around us.

As a former reporter, I covered an SA trial in Louisiana and it just about tore me up inside.

It would be incredibly naive to think that it’s unchristian to be cautious in today’s world.

I believe God has given us a gut instinct that we should listen to.

The best news is that one day in God’s timing, praise the Lord, He will put an end to all of this evil we are seeing.

The following verse is from a Psalm of David to the people of Israel.

Its relevance to modern times demonstrates God’s love for His people throughout the generations.

For evildoers will be eliminated,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land. – Psalm 37:9, (NASB).¹

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Our Exceptional God

“God Is Sovereign” Meaning

April 4, 2023 Gracie

What Does It Mean to Say That God is Sovereign?

A Bible teacher I am not, but to answer the question of God’s Sovereignty, we can first take a look at its definition.

According to dictionary.com, the word “Sovereign” means “supreme power or authority.” (Dictionary.com, n.d.)¹

I believe that secular definition is a pretty good description, but our ultimate authority on this is the Word of God.

Let’s take a look. This is from a Psalm of David.

²⁴ The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world, and those who live in it.
²For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.
³Who may ascend onto the hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place? – Psalm 24:1-3, (NASB).²

The first line of Psalm 24 is pretty clear, isn’t it?

The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains . . .

God is Sovereign and Controls Everything

God is in control of everything. As a divine attribute of His Sovereignty, nothing can stop Him from His intended purposes.

As sinful humans, we don’t like not being in control.

It’s interesting that when God does not “intervene” (by human standards) in a crisis situation, some will question His power and majesty.

Do you remember that outrageous 2015 headline, “God isn’t fixing this” which also referenced prayer as “meaningless platitudes”?

How sad is it that people actually still think that way.

Here’s the truth:

God has the ability to do anything, to take action and intervene in any situation, but He often chooses to act indirectly or to allow certain things for reasons of His own. His will is furthered in any case. God’s “sovereignty” means that He is absolute in authority and unrestricted in His supremacy. Everything that happens is, at the very least, the result of God’s permissive will. This holds true even if certain specific things are not what He would prefer. The right of God to allow mankind’s free choices is just as necessary for true sovereignty as His ability to enact His will, wherever and however He chooses. – Got Questions website.³

The fact is we live in a sinful world, and we will suffer.

Whether it’s illness, or persecution, or anything else.

The Bible warns us about the sufferings we will experience in this life.

If God is Sovereign, Then Why Won’t He Stop Evil?

God’s sovereignty in a sinful world is a tough topic for many people.

The importance of God “allowing” actions as part of His sovereignty cannot be overstated. God’s causing the basis for an act to occur does not mean He is a responsible moral agent for the act. The moral responsibility for intentionally evil acts falls on those who commit the acts themselves. – Got Questions website.⁴

We won’t understand the concept of sovereignty perfectly. As the Bible says, His ways are not our ways.

Simply put, as our Creator, the world belongs to God so it’s His to do with as He wishes.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

If God is Sovereign, Then Why Pray?

God’s Sovereignty is exactly the reason we should pray. He sees and hears our every cry.

We are talking to the One who created the heavens and the earth and the One who created you and me.

We should be falling on our knees in reverence and praise.

Trusting in God’s Sovereignty helps give us more peace about a situation.

Why?

Because it takes the pressure off of us in a lot of ways.

We can rest in the peace that God is in control no matter what is going on.

And, as Christians, we have nothing to fear.

He loves us in every sense of the word.

We were created by Him and for Him and God wants us with Him for eternity.

Our modern day sufferings are just for a little while.

Because we know the end of “His Story” (the Bible) we have all the reason to praise Him, to have great faith through the storm.

This is one of the many reasons that we can delight in God.

As prophesied in the Bible, we will have tough days ahead, but stay strong.

Dear friends in Christ, Jesus our Lord and Savior is coming back someday!

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¹ Sovereign. (n.d.). In Dictionary.com. Retrieved from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sovereign

³Quotation from gotquestions.org, from “What does it mean that God is sovereign? n.d., para. 6. Web. Accessed March 31, 2023. God’s Sovereignty.

⁴Quotation from go Sovereigntytions.org, from “Is God sovereign over death? n.d., para. 7. Web. Accessed March 31, 2023. https://www.gotquestions.org/is-God-sovereign-over-death.html

Our Exceptional God

He Knows Your Name

July 25, 2017 Gracie

God’s Unchangeable Character

Have you ever felt insignificant, even if just for a little while?

Perhaps:
– your boss denied your request for a raise
– a disobedient child defied your authority in front of your in-laws
– your great idea was shot down at an employee meeting

Friends, it will be okay.

We don’t know when or how exactly, but it will turn out as God planned, and in His timing.

You Are Not Alone

Thankfully, we don’t walk through this journey alone.

We have a Father who cares about us very, very much.

With the love of the Father in mind, I wanted to look back this week at an uplifting song that I remember singing back in the mid-1990’s.

An oldie, but goodie, right?

It’s a choir song. I love it because, for me, it represents the beautiful realization that God is not an absentee father.

Right now, He is with you and me.

The song is called “He Knows My Name.”

Here is one of the several beautiful versions you can find on YouTube.

Enjoy!

Sing To Him

Why not sing to Him?

If you sing horribly, you can wait until you’re alone.

I’m kidding!

^*11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart. – Psalm 32:11, New American Standard Bible (NASB).

Psalm 32 is a Psalm of David. He writes joyfully, as one who knows that the Lord will forgive his confessing heart.

In His Sight

God is not sitting up in Heaven somewhere, only handling global events.

You and I are in His sights every day.

There’s only one mediator between God and us, and He is Jesus Christ.

No one else has that divine authority.

He knows your name

Communion With God

How can we respond to the love and character of God exhibited through His Son, Jesus Christ?

Do we just squeeze in a few fly-by minutes with Him each day, or do we take some actual time to read the Scriptures and pray?

By praying, I mean praying to Him in Jesus’ Name with our expressions of love and gratitude.

We can always remember that the One who created us is always with us.

God will forgive our contrite hearts as well.

Now that’s something to sing about!

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Our Exceptional God