When Dan and I relocated to New Meadows in the 1990’s, we eventually found a beautiful lot in a wooded area of the subdivision and built our forever home. We have been blessed for many years in our home and Dan thanked the Lord every day for the privilege. Dan is gone, but I too am thankful for the years we had.

However, a year ago or so, my homeowner’s insurance was cancelled because my house was now designated to be in a “ fire zone” and at risk. I wasn’t given any other options and had about three weeks to find new insurance which my mortgage requires. Thankfully, I did find a company that would insure the house, naturally at much higher premiums. It’s been a year-long process to get that done.

An independent  insurance inspector came to assess the house and property and wrote up a list of compliances which needed to be taken care of, some of which were valid, many of which were not, according to county standards. Some were beauracratic and just plain absurd.. He came and he left without contact information or giving any recourse. Then winter, snow and ice came to stay for six months and this spring, I was suddenly in a crunch to “comply.” Had it not been for my church family and Christian brothers who helped me figure things out, I don’t know what I would have done. Had it not been for Christian sisters who prayed with me through this very stressful season, this story might be very different.

We have allowed the world’s systems to dictate, control, encroach and entangle our lives – because we fear losing something that God has given us to tend. In my case it was my home not being insured if there is a forest fire. Dan and I have lived here surrounded by a forest of trees for 30 years without fear of fire, but suddenly that has changed, not because of the actual danger, but because an unknown person in the chain of insurance command tells me I am in danger. Worse still, several people have told me that nowadays insurance decisions are made by algorithms, not flesh and blood individuals. In other words, some computer generated program has the final word about my home. Certainly it’s the same scenario for other potential disasters where insurance has made itself necessary: automobiles, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes,  health, social services, etc. AI has arrived  but gives absolutely  no assurance for the future of my home.

Whom do I really trust? If I trusted God to keep us safe all those years, why now do I falter in my trust? Does God change? As the Apostle Paul would say, certainly not! God desires obedience and trust, not compliance and fear. Psalm 27 directs me to seek God as the source of all assurance, mercy and grace. His Holy Spirit is the best insurance coverage I will ever need.

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?