Safe In His Hand
By
Jeannine Sawall
“So
do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah
41:10 (NIV)
Once I was shopping
with my then-nine-year-old son. We had parked the car, gotten out, and were
walking toward the store through a busy parking lot. As we rounded the car and
headed out into the busy thoroughfare, his hand reached up and linked with
mine. I looked down at his little red head and smiled. I said to him, “Josh, I
like holding your hand…how much longer do you think you will want to hold mine
when we walk?” He took a moment to ponder the question and responded, “I
think when I’m ten, then I’ll be okay to walk by myself. When I’m ten, I will
know how to be safe.”
His simple answer
brought tears to my eyes. Not because the day when he felt he would be safe and
didn’t need to hold my hand was coming sooner rather than later, but because he
knew my hand was there to provide safety and comfort. Walking in that busy
parking lot with our hands linked meant he did not have to fear; his mom was
there to protect him. He no longer had to be dismayed or worried, since I would
not let him go where he would get hurt. I loved knowing he knew that!
It wasn’t too many days
later, I came upon the verse in Isaiah and the Lord impressed upon me that He
has His hand out, ready to protect me, to help me, to strengthen me…and all I
have to do is rest in it. It was such a startling picture in my mind - -
imagining my hand linked with God’s, knowing I did not have to be afraid of or
worry about anything. Being assured that He is always there, offering that same
love and concern I had offered to my child.
As much as we love and
protect our children, doing whatever we can to make them feel loved, safe and
secure, the Lord is there providing the same love, protection and care…only
infinitely more than we can even imagine. He says, “Do not fear or be
dismayed.” He wants us to have that same sense of security in Him that our
children have in us. Whatever you have going on in your life, reach out and
grab the Father’s hand; He won’t let you go where His hand can’t safely keep
you.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What in your
life causes you to be dismayed or fearful?
2. Do you trust
the Father to keep you safely in His hand?
FURTHER READING:
Jeannine
is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in the property management
business. Jeannine is actively involved in ministry to those walking through
grief.
