He Took Hold of Me

I said something two days ago that I now regret.  And it's been haunting me.  Ever had that happen?

I thought so.  So you can relate.

Well, I told some friends that my life was a logistical nightmare.  I was feeling just a bit overwhelmed--okay a lot overwhelmed.  So what's to regret about saying that?  Well, they certainly weren't the words of a faithful witness to God's capableness, and it just wasn't true.  First of all nightmares aren't real life, and secondly, it wasn't an accurate statement.  On top of that, I certainly didn't want my children to feel like I was insinuating that they were part of the problem; they're not.

My life may feel like a logistical challenge to me at moments, but it's not all up to me.  What was I thinking?!

Logistical challenges are nothing to my God.  

The real problem was that I took my eyes off my Redeemer and looked at the wind around me.  (Thinking just now I have a lot in common with the Peter of Matthew 14:22-34.)  "But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!"

Jesus didn't let the doubter sink; He didn't just let him go down.

"Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand

and took hold of him . . ."

And He didn't just let me go down either.

My God stretched out His hand and reminded me (Numbers 1-10) that He organized millions of His people in the desert after they left Egypt, told them who was to camp where--significantly, all centered around His presence, assigned their duties, set up the signals they would use to communicate, and directed when to set out and when and where to camp.  And, with my God's perspective, my life is beginning to look rather uncomplicated now. . .

My God--the One who holds me safely (John 10:27-29), whose everlasting arms are under me (Deuteronomy 33:27), and whose wings cover me (Psalm 91)--wants me to understand that nothing is too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:27).

There are days when I, like David did, just need Him to tell me again.

"O Lord . . .  say to my soul,

'I am your salvation.'"

Psalm 35:3b

"There is none like the God of Israel

 who rides the heavens to your help,

and through the skies in His majesty.

The eternal God is a dwelling place, 

and underneath are the everlasting arms . . ."

Deuteronomy 33:26-27

 "'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'

And when they got in the boat the wind stopped."

Matthew 14:31b-32

Life can be hard.  Sometimes it even gets darker before the light comes, but whatever it is, however big it is, however impossible it looks to you, He can handle it.  And He'll take hold of you, too.

It's Enough

In the darkest and stormiest of nights and the hardest of days,

the promises of God

give sure light, a steady anchor, and unwearying wings.

Well, the season is past, but I’m still pondering.  Incidentally, I seriously doubt that Mary was ever finished pondering as long as she lived (see Luke 2:19).

Can you get your mind around this?  It finally happened!  The most anticipated event in the entire history of the world finally happened!  The long-promised Messiah arrived in the flesh.

Just knowing He’d come was enough for Simeon (See Luke 2:212-35).  Seeing the Messiah was what He was living for, waiting for.  You see, the Holy Spirit had actually revealed to him that he wouldn’t die ‘til he’d seen the Lord’s Messiah.

I’ve often wondered what it must have been like when Simeon saw Joseph and Mary walk into the temple with Jesus.  Did the Holy Spirit whisper, “See that baby being carried in just now?  He’s the One you’ve been waiting for—there’s your Messiah, Simeon!”

However He did it, the Holy Spirit made it obvious to Simeon who Jesus was, and Jesus’ parents were absolutely amazed at what Simeon said as he held Jesus in his arms and blessed God.  

For Simeon, this was enough; there was nothing greater to live for.  He’d seen the Messiah, and even if he didn’t live to see how his Messiah would accomplish everything, he trusted what God had told him.  Everything would work out the way it should.  Everything was going to be okay.

Now I’m asking myself, “Do I have that kind of faith?”  I want to have that kind of faith.  I want to be like those spoken of in Hebrews 11 who—even though they didn’t see all the final fulfillment of God’s promises in their lifetimes—died in faith, seeing and welcoming His promises from a distance.

All His precious and magnificent promises (see II Peter 1:1-4) are true.  He is faithful.  Not one of His promises has failed.  All came to pass. (I’m thinking just now of Joshua 21:45 and 23:14.)

We can’t rest in those promises, though,

if we don’t know what they are.

It’s long past time for all who claim to be God’s to know what His Word says, to really know it— not just as second-hand knowledge, but because we’ve seen it with our own eyes, and we can’t get it out of our heads.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1

It’s enough for me to have met the Messiah.  (Have you?)

And I believe He will do what He has promised.  (Do you?)

~~~~~~~

(If you've never heard the song Captain's Anthem,
now might be a good time to pause to listen.)