Sometimes . . . when someone has experienced a tragedy, it’s best to sit with them in silence. Not always, but sometimes. Alistair Begg, senior pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, calls that “Eloquent Silence.”
I remember one of our local chaplains telling us about a visit he made to a Navy family in the housing area whose baby had died. When he arrived, he sat with the couple on the front porch. Just sat with them. Later the couple told him that was the most helpful thing he could have done at the time. He acted according to Romans 12:15, “. . . mourn with those who mourn.”
In His Hands
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But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hands . . .” – Psalm 31:14,15
Sometimes it’s a refreshing spiritual exercise for me to link several ways God has led His people to creatively convey His truth.
I recently heard JJ Heller’s song “Your Hands”: “When my world is shaking, Heaven stands . . . When my heart is breaking I never leave Your hands.”
Listening to her composition took me back twenty years to a similar truth conveyed by Wayne Watson in “Touch of the Master’s Hand”: “There’s many a man with his life out of tune, battered and scarred with sin; and he’s auctioned cheap to a thankless world much like that old violin. Oh, but then the Master comes, and that old foolish crowd they never understand . . .The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought Just by one touch of the Master’s hand.”
Which then prompted my weary, but inspired, mind to remember a writing that made its way around the internet several years ago:
A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends on whose hands it’s in . . .
A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Mark McGuire’s hands is worth $19 million.
It depends on whose hands it’s in . . .
A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Pete Sampras’ hands is a Wimbledon Championship.
It depends on whose hands it’s in . . .
A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends on whose hands it’s in . . .
A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy.
A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends on whose hands it’s in . . .
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed thousands.
It depends on whose hands they’re in . . .
Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Christ Jesus’ hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends on whose hands they’re in . . .
As you see now it depends whose hands it’s in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God’s Hands.
Because, it depends on whose hands they’re in.” by Paul Ciniraj, as missionary in India
At the end of this particular spiritual exercise, which resembled a mental journey, I returned to the Bible and thanked God that He said it best of all in His Word, the Bible:
“Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power, to exalt and give strength to all.” —I Chronicles 29:11b,12
“The LORD delights in the way of the man whose steps He has made firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand.” —Psalm 37:23,24
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.” —Psalm 139:7-10
“Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am He; I am the first and I am the last. My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.” —Isaiah 48:12,13
“Yet, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.” — Isaiah 64:8
We are safe, in His hands, no matter where we are in the world tonight. To God be the Glory!
Questions to Share:
1. Which of the three individuals (two songs, one poem) expressed the thoughts of your heart when you hear the words “in God’s hands”?
2. Which of the Scriptures speaks to how God is meeting your need during this challenging time of deployment?
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