Where in your life are you trying to hold it together?
You know the struggles you’re facing – the places you are having a hard time bearing up, keeping life going.
In my household when things are happening – things that cause my gut to churn, my teeth to clench, my mind to whirl and if I’m with my hubby talking through the stress – the whatever, that is threatening our peaceful life balance – I’ll often look down. Down at my hubby’s hands, and often his hands are tightly clenched – into white knuckled fists – ready to fight.
Let me clarify, the struggles in our lives are usually not physical battles – yet as one who cares deeply, my hubby is ready to fight for us. Even though our struggles are not fist fighting battles.
Have you found yourself in a similar place? A battle clearly beyond your control, and, yet you want to do some thing. There must be some way to improve the situation – some tweak or fix you can do to simply – make – things – better.
What do we do when some piece of life goes out of control? We grab hold of some thing. A life preserver to keep us afloat.
The Bible has a name for these things that we grab hold of – it’s called “strongholds”. They do just what the name implies – they are the place we go to for strength.
I’ll be honest, though I’m a Christian my first line of defense when troubles come is often my common sense. I try to solve, to tweak, to fix or to manage my troubles and the troubles of those I love.
I want to help. I want to try to make ‘things’ happen. I want to pull my loved one out of the danger zone and place them in a better place – a safer place.
I’m going to say it – the words you don’t want to hear – the words I don’t want to believe – but, true they are – We’re not in control. Isn’t that one of the lessons of COVID-19?
It’s not very pretty. Not being in charge. Not being able to make life happen – as I want – as I know to be best. It’s a harsh reality, but there is one sweet truth hidden behind it. Truly, mind boggling sweet – God’s got it!
God’s in charge. I sometimes forget.
The good news of the troubled places that we find ourselves – “even there Your [God’s] hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:10).
God’s got it! God’s got us – in His very hands.
I’ve been drawn for many years to the image of God’s hands – used frequently to describe His might, God also uses His hands to reach out to us – “He lays His hand upon me – such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain..” (Ps 139:5,6).
I love that God offers us His hand.
That’s grace – God’s hand reaching out to me to take hold of me – “He reached down and took hold of me…He rescued me, the Lord was my support” (Psalm 18:16).
Listen to these words written by Charles Spurgeon:
“It is a good thing to be without a trouble; but it is a better thing to have a trouble and know how to get grace enough to bear it.”
God’s hand of favor – grace, itself, extended to us in our troubles.
To receive grace I take hold of God’s hand, and let go of the things I’m holding tight to – things like my control – my conviction that I know best. I’ve only got two hands. I choose.
Today, I choose grace.
What are you holding on to for strength today? What are you striving to lay hold of? Are you seeking a protected position – a secure stance – a problem removed? Or, are you seeking the mighty hand of God to hold you up?
Perhaps today we need to change our grip. Grab hold of God. Hold. On. Tight. Trusting His grace will give us all that we need for life and everything else.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16
**Lord, give us this day our daily bread – Your manna for our troubles – Your grace and mercy for our every need.
