“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” (Isaiah 41:13)
“I love it when you hold my hand, and I hate it when we have to let go.”
My beautiful wife said those words to me many years ago, and I can still envision the exact moment and time in my memories. We hold hands as we go places, when we are walking somewhere, as we pass each other in the house while attending to those earthly chores, we touch hands. Even if we are upset or frustrated with each other, as we are walking down the street, we hold hands.
“And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:8)
“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” (Isaiah 49:16)
Our paths are always being directed, our hands are always being held, even when the Lord is frustrated with us, even when we have found fault in His sight, He will never let go of us.
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15) If you have ever sat at the deathbed of one who is leaving this life, you know when you let go of their hand you will never hold it again, not in this life. There will be no more walks, no phone calls, no pictures or cards sent, they are gone, and they are not coming back.
What we cannot see in this life is clearly visible to those who are watching over us, to those ministering angles, to the Father, and perhaps in a way to those who have gone on to glory whose hands we once held, that we are protected, cared for, watched over, that our hands are held firmly in the grip of the One that none can loose them from. They have been since He pulled you out of that pit of despair, since He led you to the cross and then lifted you up from that hallowed ground and freed you from your burden. He has held your hand every step of the way on the path to His Kingdom, and it is His hand that will open that gate into His eternal presence.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Rev. 3:19) That same hand yields correction for our benefit. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Heb. 12:11)
The very first day my lovely wife and I met we went for a walk, and we held hands as we did so, we will walk in His Kingdom holding hands, we will experience eternity in the presence of eternal joy with billions of our brothers and sisters in the Lord, but I have no intention of exploring eternity while holding anyone else’s hand but hers.
There is a bond though that I have with the Lord Jesus Christ that far excels the one I have with my beloved wife, that bond for her with Him, and I trust with you and the Lord, far exceeds any human bond that we will ever experience either here or there. It is the epitome of the words “personal experience,” it is an attachment that cannot be expressed in any words, it is eternal, it is love exemplified. It goes far beyond the words security and confidence, it is a known fact that only faith can prove.
It is a comfort that cannot be expressed.
He is always near to you my friends, He is always watching over you, He is always holding your hand. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)
Rest assured in the promises, for they are true, and He that has promised is faithful. When all seems hopeless, have hope, when the straits are dire, rest assured in this truth, He will never let go of you.
