For I am the Lord your God who takes hold your right hand and say to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13
I shared with you yesterday that my husband, in the early days of our relationship, was a “no public displays of affection” kinda guy. Now, we hold hands all the time, in the car, walking down the street or through the mall, just all the time and I LOVE IT.
I remember the safety of walking home from school, when my dad would pick me up, and holding my daddy’s hand. I remember the love and the safety. My dad was a broken sinner, but I knew he loved me and when he held my hand I felt like everything was going to be ok.
I have always loved Holding Hands.
Our children and grand children were recently at our house, it was a beautiful day and we all went outside. The kids were all playing in the yard and our two toddlers wanted to stroll (or tumble : ) down the driveway. So, Grammy took both of their hands and we began to walk down the driveway. Our rambunctious little 2 year old grandson took my hand and suddenly became subdued. He and our precious little granddaughter walked all the way down that long driveway (long for those little toddler legs : ) and then strolled all the way back up, never letting go of Grammy’s hands.
That was one of those precious memories that I will never forget. But it was so much more than just a walk down the driveway. Those two little babies, trusted Grammy. They took my hand and headed down that driveway, never looking back. They knew that I would watch out for and protect them, they knew that they were safe and loved, they knew that I would bring them back to their mommy and dad. They trusted me. And, they were right. I would protect them with my life if I had to, I would do everything I could to make sure they didn’t stray off the path into danger and they knew I would bring them home safely.
Our verse today “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:13 needs to be viewed in the same context we view those two toddlers and I Holding Hands.
The scriptures tell us repeatedly that, as followers of Jesus Christ, we have been adopted into the family of God. We are His children. 1 John 3:1 couldn’t be clearer on that fact – “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.” In this verse John is saying LOOK! What kind of love is this that God has poured out on us, that we would be called His children? This love that God pours out on us is beyond our comprehension. It is beyond anything we will ever experience apart from Him. His love is SO great that He sent His Son to die in our place. And He did that, before you even committed your first sin. He knew that we couldn’t pay the penalty for the sin that we were going to commit and sent Jesus, His only son, to pay that penalty for us.
Our Abba Father, in our Isaiah verse, has said I am the Lord your God, I hold your hand and tell you don’t fear, I am here to help you. He is our loving Father who protects us. Psalm 27:1 tells us “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? With our loving Heavenly Father, holding our hand as we walk through this life, what and whom shall we fear?
If I, the broken sinner that I am, would protect my grandbabies with my life if I had to, would do everything I could to make sure they didn’t stray off the path into danger and would bring them home safely. How much more will our loving Abba Father do for us?
He did protect us with His life (He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification – Romans 4:25);
He does do everything He can to keep us from straying off the path into danger (For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps – 1 Peter 2:21 & Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path – Psalm 119:105).
And He will bring us home safely (After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. – 1 Thessalonians 4:17 & In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am you may be also. – John 14:2-3).
Your Abba Father is holding out His hand for you to take. He wants to protect and guide and love you like you have never been loved before. He wants you to walk through this land mine we call life Holding Hands with Him.
I pray that today you would not only hold the hand of our Loving Heavenly Father, but I pray that you would curl right up in His lap. Trust Him fully and let Him love you deeply. He truly adores you. You will never experience that kind of love, peace and safety apart from Him.
If you have never experienced the love of our Heavenly Father or trusted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. Once you have done that, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know so that I can pray with and for you. And can help you grow in your knowledge of and relationship with our adoring Abba Father.
