Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
The other week, our preacher referenced one of my favorite verses. This is a verse that I have dissected many times to help me through some difficult circumstances, but this time the Lord brought it to life a little bit differently. He reminded me of a time when my boys were younger.
One of my boys is very rambunctious, when he gets an idea, or a thought comes into his mind he is going to act on it. He doesn’t take a moment to think it through or worry about the consequences, he just acts and figures it out later. Now as a mom, this was exciting and terrifying. You never knew what was next or where he may dart off to.
So, when we went out to a store or a crowded place I would have him hold my hand and it never failed that at some point in our outing that he would get an idea of somewhere else he wanted to be, and he would start to take off. The problem for him was that I wasn’t simply allowing him to hold my hand, but I was holding on tight to his. This meant every time he decided to begin an adventure in a different direction than where I was leading, he couldn’t quit get there because I had a hold of him. Yes, he would pull against me and tug at my arm with all that he had to break away to go his own way, but I knew that wasn’t where he needed to be. I knew that he could get hit by a car, lost, or even worse.
To my son, he thought I was being mean by not letting him run free but in reality, I was keeping him safe from dangers he couldn’t see or imagine. More than a time or two he was angry with me and loudly exclaimed his unhappiness, yet I still held him close refusing to let him go.
What my son couldn’t see was that I loved him too much to willingly let him walk (run) into danger!
And there it was...... the beauty of God’s love!
You see, it isn’t I that holds tight to God, but it is God who holds tight to me. There have been many times along this faith walk that I have seen something or desired something that I wanted to run to. I have prayed for direction, but honestly, I was asking God to let me go in the direction I wanted. I have grumbled at being what I thought was held back, but in reality, it was my Father saying, “Daughter, it isn’t safe over there. Just keep holding my hand.”
Just like my son, I don’t always understand the path I am on or why we can’t go a different way, a way that seems easier, but I know that my Father sees the beginning to the end. He knows that what may appear to be easy can also be dangerous. The Lord knows where I need to be and when I need to be there. I don’t always like where He is leading but I trust Him to get me to where He wants me to be and that there is safety in His hands.
Thank you, Lord, that it is You that has my hand and forgive me for the times I attempt to tug to go my own way.
Verses of Encouragement:
Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Psalm 20:6
My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. Psalm 63:8
Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand. Psalm 73:23
For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Isaiah 41:13
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