In God's hands

As Christians, we say that a lot. "You are in God's hands." We say that to someone as they struggle with a situation or a crisis. I have said it many times. I encourage members of the congregation with those very words. There are places of Scripture that we fall back on to say this. The one place I often go is John's gospel. There Jesus says, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." (John 10:28-29 ESV) What a comfort it is to know that nothing can snatch us out of the hand of God,

That doesn't mean that we don't face difficult times. It does mean that when we face those times, We belong to God. The situation can not take us out of the hand of our Father. Therein lies the real challenge. It seems that in times of crisis, we are not in the hand of God. "Where is God in this struggle? Where did God go while I face this crisis? Why do I feel so alone as this is going on? Shouldn't God stop this problem?" Those and many more thoughts can run through the mind of someone that is facing a crisis of some sort. It doesn't have to be a major, life-threatening crisis for the person to think that. It is a crisis for that person at that time.

I would remind you that being the Lord's hand is not based on your feelings. It is based on a very certain fact. Your feelings will change. They will fluctuate. Some days you will feel close to God, others you will feel far from Him. No, this does not rely upon you or even the situation you face. Listen to what God has said, "Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." (Isaiah 49:16a ESV) Do you hear what He said? He engraved you on the palms of His hands. You didn't do it. He did it. When did that happen? Turn not to the actions of or thoughts of your heart. Turn to the waters of Baptism. There, in those blessed waters, God has called you by name. He claimed you. He promised you, "I will be your God and you shall be my child." He declares it. You don't even have to claim it. He gives it to you. Period. He gives you this promise. He engraves you on the palms of His hands. You are with Him every moment of every day - no matter what is going on in your life.

So you see, it isn't up to your feelings or your situation. He says to you, "You are mine. I am holding you every moment of every day." That is His promise made to you in the waters of Baptism. It is sure. It is certain. It is absolute.

You are in the hand of God. Sitting there reading this, you are in God's hand. Going to work, you are in God's hand. Eating breakfast, going to school, sitting in the doctor's office, laying on the gurney in the ER, taking that breath right before and during the time of your surgery, sleeping in your warm bed, driving down the road, washing the dishes, reading a book, and watching TV - you are in God's hand. He never lets you go. He never is too busy. He is never too anything. He promised you. And that promise is so wonderful.

Yes, you are in God's hand.