“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10). In fact, I have you engraved on my hand, and your right hand is in mine. (Isa.49:16; Ps.73;23). But I don’t just hold your hand, I hold you, and guarantee you’ll never be snatched out of it” (Ps.139:10; Jn.10:29).
Heavenly Father, in a world of global craziness, local challenges, and personal struggles, we are grateful you specialize in “will be’s”—not “might be’s” “could be’s”, or “oughta be’s.” Outcomes belong to you as surely as heaven, earth, angels and us. But better by far, we belong to you.
We live under your reign of grace, not by the math of karma. We are more “in Christ” than we are in any mess or crisis. 10,000 times more so than we realize, you have everything in your sovereign, merciful and mighty hands. That doesn’t make life easy, but it sure means we are loved—and that eventually, all things will be new and beautiful. Today we choose to trust your hands with:
Our tears—which you see, bottle, and will wipe.
All of our cells—the cancerous and non-cancerous ones.
Our days—which you have already written and determined.
Our children and “grands”—whom you love more than we do.
Changes we didn’t choose, and stories/”surprises” we wouldn’t script.
Father, all these promises about your “hand,” presence, and determination give us incomparable peace and hope. We are a gazillion times grateful the Gospel is all about your grip of grace—not our weak, sweaty palms trying to hold on. So Very Amen.