I Wanna Hold Your Hand

"You have given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your humility exalts me." Psalm 18:35

I know my daddy's hands, I watched them a lot while growing up. If you didn't already know I am a daddy's girl (;see post, "A Father's Love"). His hands look just like his mother's hands and Sonya was given the privilege to own those same hands (I try not to be jealous) but that has nothing to do with this.

When I was a little girl (probably five or six) on Sunday mornings after my Sunday School class would dismiss I would find my way to my daddy's classroom and wait for him so that we could walk to the sanctuary together. He was in a meeting with the deacons of the church so I patiently awaited his exit.

On this particular Sunday I wasn't feeling good. I knew I was possibly the owner of a fever of a high degree. I decided to watch for his hands because I just didn't have the strength to look up to see his face come walking through that door.

One by one men's hands were exiting this room, feeling secure in knowing that I would recognize the ones I was looking for I began to study each set by shape, color and size until I spotted those familiar hands I knew. Finally after a short wait I saw them and with no doubt in my mind knew that they belonged to my daddy. I walked right up to him and placed my hand in his as we always did and proceeded to walk toward the worship service. Being confident in knowing I was hand in hand with the one who would take care of me and get me the help I needed I soon realized after a few weary steps the voice above me did not match my daddy's. I slowly looked up to find someone else carrying the same hands as he. I had mistakenly chosen a set of hands so much like my father's but wasn't his at all.

I don't know what season of life you are in right now or what you might be facing. It might be several weeks of too much activity and too little space on the calendar, or too much time spent inside but too much warning of sickness to want to go out. It might be a sickness you are walking through or caring for a sick loved one. You may be lonely or hurting in your body or in your heart.

"For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, "Do not fear, I will help you."" (Isa. 41:13)

Whatever the case, it can still be a season you hand over to God and lean more into His strength than your own. A season during which you place your hand in the hand of our loving Father, trusting the warmth and kindness and support you will find in that strong hand. Just look up and acknowledge the hand He presents to you is His; mighty and strong; brave and sure.

"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last."" (Rev. 1:17)

I love you & He loves you more!

Lord, Help us to know Your mighty hand, to recognize when You offer it for us to take hold of. May we run to You when we find our life is more than we can handle. Remind us that we are stronger when we are holding Your hand. In Jesus' name. Amen.