My Hand in God’s Hand

Did you ever wonder how Barak and Samson made that great roll of faithfuls in Hebrews 11? I mean, shouldn’t it be Deborah instead of Barak? And Samson?! Now that’s just…. unbelievable!

Or how about the Apostle Paul’s glowing words about Abraham

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, Rom 4:19-20)

What does Paul mean “He did not weaken in faith” and “No unbelief made him waver”?

What about Hagar?!

The truth is, men never live up to their ideals – and God is GRACIOUS. Men are not always so gracious!

And yet, sometimes they are…. 

Tohoku JECA Pastors

How grateful I am for this group of local pastors - and how it warmed my heart to see them reach out their hands (literally) to my husband hoping to,

Strengthen the weak hands,

and make firm the feeble knees.

Say to those who have an anxious heart,

"Be strong; fear not!”

Isaiah 35:3-4

It is still hard to shed the anxiety (and sometimes terror) that has gripped us for so long.

We have to believe that God rules - and overrules.

Joseph told his brothers in Gen 50v20,   “God turned into good what you meant for evil.”  And the truth is we will never shed our anxious hearts until we believe this to be true in our lives – always true.

Often we don’t really know that those who have hurt us “meant it for evil”...   It is difficult to know the hearts of men and women.

But when we question motives, when things seem wrong, Joseph’s words ought to remind us that God allows even things that seem totally bad to us and (whether we understand and agree with the motive or not)  He can always use these “bad things” to bring about His good purposes.

But I need to be reminded:

…Therefore lift your drooping hands

and strengthen your weak knees,

and make straight paths for your feet,

so that what is lame may not be put out of joint

but rather be healed.

Hebrews 12:12-13

And we feel our hands in God’s hands as friends and colleagues reach out their hands (real and figurative) to us in love.