“Safety first!” These words are the mantra everywhere, from the sixth-grade science lab to your own home when your kids run by with a pair of scissors. We’re all about safety when it comes to our families. This week we are praying protection over our kids. Praying protection is probably something that comes automatically when you’re praying for your family; however, if we look a little bit deeper, we find that God’s promise of protection comes in the form of security in our salvation and eternity in his presence. Not necessarily safety on this earth. In his book Crazy Love, Francis Chan challenges us to stop making safety our greatest prayer and instead pray that we will know Jesus better, whatever road that takes. I love this particular quote from Crazy Love: “People who are obsessed with Jesus aren’t consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God’s kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.” There’s nothing wrong with praying safety and protection for our kids, and we should do that this week. But let’s also be willing to pray that, whatever road God chooses for them to walk, they come out on the other side knowing God better. Tune in this week on Pardon the Mess as we talk about protection versus safety and how to trust God as we pray for our kids to know Jesus better. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever.” —2 Timothy 4:18