She's now grown out of it, but Chloe used to carry a pink, fluffy blanket around with her. As she walked through the house, she'd have a thumb stuck in her mouth and that blanket bunched in her arms.

If we went somewhere in the car, the blanket was an honored passenger. Don't think about taking it from her, not even long enough to buckle her into her car seat.

We'd have to slip her arm, wrapped tightly around the blanket, through the strap. Then we had to pull the excess blanket through the strap, too, before securing her in her seat.

When she went to bed, she'd snuggle down under the covers with that blanket still clutched in her hand. All night long she'd hold it, never loosening her grip on it as she slept.

The only time she'd (grudgingly) relinquish the blanket was when it was bath time. Even then, she demanded that we give it back to her as soon as she was out of the water.

I noticed something about Chloe and that blanket, though. As much as she loved it, it was often the cause of many trips, spills and falls.

You see, Chloe didn't let the blanket trail behind her. Instead, she carried it in front of her. As she walked along, some of the blanket would slip out of her grip and fall to the floor. Within a few steps, the blanket was wrapped around her feet.

The next thing she knew she'd be on the floor, wondering how she got there.

Have you noticed that some of the things we often hold onto for security can end up causing us to stumble and fall? The liquor that calms our nerves after a long, hard day can eventually become alcoholism. The "comfort food" that makes us feel better can become gluttony. The anger we refuse to let go of because we were slighted in some way can destroy relationships and leave us empty and alone.

I'm not saying that every person who takes a drink will become an alcoholic, nor am I saying that every person who gets angry will end up losing all their friends.

What I am saying is that all of these things I've mentioned - and many more - if allowed to go unchecked, can cause us more pain in the long run than the short-term comfort they bring us.

So what can we do about that? Quit looking to things for comfort and security, and start looking to a person - your heavenly father.

Philippians 4:6 tells us that when we have a need, we ought to present our requests to God.

Pray to him. Tell him what's bothering us. Ask him to help us. Our heavenly father will then give us his peace, which guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

Are you in need of comfort? Then cast your cares on God (1 Peter 5:7). He can give you the lasting comfort and security that nothing else can.

Parrish Myers is pastor of Pine Crest Baptist Church in Gainesville.