In our house, we like to hold hands before we eat dinner, lunch, or breakfast as we pray together for our food. As we go outside the house to eat at restaurants, we continue the practice (hopefully others don’t see it as show, but hear our thankfulness for what the LORD has provided). As we share life with others, we hold onto one another, holding on tightly to their hands, and as we hold one another’s hands, there is great community. As we hold tightly across table coverings, across aisles, and across generations of time, we sense deeply WHO is sharing our days with us. As we grab onto a person’s hand at the table, we are mindful of WHO has brought the vastness of provision to meet our needs.  Most certainly, all though it may begin with the stretching out of our hands to take ahold of another’s, still we are aware of WHOSE Hand We Are Holding.

Hand Holding.

A beautifully, intimate action.  Whenever we walk with our children, we hold their hands tightly to keep them from harm.  If we have more than one child, then we possibly cried out to the eldest, “Hold your sister’s hand so she doesn’t fall down.”

Hand Holding.

A wondrously, peaceful sentiment.    We hold one another’s hands while they are preparing for a medical procedure or while they are suffering with an illness.

Hand Holding.

A glorious opportunity to pass our deep emotion from our heart to theirs, holding tightly as we sense and receive an amazing depth of love.

Hand Holding.

The action I most enjoy with Darrell during church. The action that declared our love when we were first dating. Intimate. Personal. Deeply God.

Hand Holding.

The future action I so wish to share with my two daughters who must live in Europe, whenever this time of Coronavirus lifts and the travel bans are forever lifted. It is then that we will go outside together, holding hands as we walk.  Truthfully, when we are with those we love, where we walk clearly does not matter, for it is not the destination, but the person we walk with, who we hold hands with, that matters most of all. Most certainly, all though it may begin with the stretching out of our hands to take ahold of God’s, it is then we are fully aware of WHOSE Hand We Are Holding.

Hand Holding. 

Faith in God is a walk, a life-journey.   When our eyes are opened from darkness to light, from lost to found, from unbelief to belief—–we finally see God’s amazing truth that He has come to save mankind. It is then, in that instant, we only want to grab ahold of our Father God’s hand and never let go.
When our eyes finally see God’s mercy and amazing grace, understanding that God has not given to us what our sins deserve, but instead given to us—Himself to worship forevermore—IT IS THEN….THAT WE WANT TO REACH OUT FOR GOD; YET, WE DISCOVER THEN (IN THAT MOMENT) THAT WE CANNOT REACH OUT FOR GOD….BECAUSE HE HAS ALREADY TAKEN AHOLD OF US.

Do we wish to know God? Do we wish for our lives to be changed? Do we wish to become radically transformed? Do we wish to live beyond this life, beyond what this life affords during our brief time? Truly there is only ONE WAY. Yes, most definitely, there is only ONE PERSON—-JESUS CHRIST. 

So many we will meet today are at their wits end and so many sense a deep sadness of what this present life brings to their days. So many just want normalcy and a return to the life before “the virus,” and maybe (if we are honest) we do too.  It is during this time of separation and sadness and despair and never-ending mask wearing that we have the chance to grab ahold of another’s hands and offer them HOPE.
The early church knew this too, even during a time of great persecution, even when they had just witnessed a believer, Stephen, be stoned to death for his words of faith. Stephen had just spoken to the crowd, stating all that Jesus will do when He returns for His church, for the believers.
Those who stood there, who believed God there in Jerusalem, faced such great persecution and the Bible says they were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.  We read how a few took on the task of burying their brother Stephen as everyone mourned his death. The great persecutor of the church (Saul) began tormenting the believers even more, entering their homes, arresting them for their belief in God as Savior, and dragging them off to prison.  All of these actions occurred right there in Jerusalem, and others, who scattered, left their homes and experienced different trials in those days. The Bible says, “Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word,” and whenever God is shared, there is always HOPE (Acts 8:4).

Hand Holding brings reassurance & calm & peace, & love.

Hand Holding shouts loudly to the other, “I love you.”

Hand Holding offers HOPE.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1: 3-5).

Hand Holding….that’s only from God.

Peace….that’s only from God.

Salvation….that’s only from God.

HOPE for Eternity….that’s only from God.
Whose hand do we need to grab ahold of today as we share with them the reason and Person for our HOPE? May we be bold today to take the person’s hand as we tell this one about our most glorious Savior. Most certainly, it may begin with the stretching out of our hands to take ahold; it will be then we become fully aware of WHOSE Hand We Are Holding as God holds eternally onto us.