Holding Hands

For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Isaiah 41:13

Have you ever noticed the different ways children hold their parents hands?  I was surprised when I really began to think about it, and it made me consider the way I was holding my Saviour's hand.

Let me give you some examples:

1-The Rebellious Hand Holding:  The parent is holding the child's hand firmly, but the child's hand is not holding back.  On the child's countenance you can almost read the child's mind, and it's saying, "Ok, I may be moving in your direction on the outside, but on the inside, I'm going my own way!"  You see the battle of 'wills.'

Do I do that when God wants me to do something I don't want to do?  Do I physically do the task only to be rebellious in my Spirit?

    For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubborness is as iniquity and idolatry.  

1 Samuel 15:23a

2-The Balled-Fist:  The parent is really not holding the child's hand, it's more like the child's wrist because the child has his hand fisted.  Now the child is resisting the parents leading and willingly shows it!

This child is heading in the direction of something he or she wants, but the parent is leading him or her away from their desire.  When you see that happening, there is usually a temper tantrum that will soon follow.

Do I do that when I desire something and God tells me 'No?'

    For my thought are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  Isaiah 55:8

3-The Limp-Hand:  The parent is holding the child's hand, but the child's hand is not holding back.  Seems like the child has been dragged around from store to store all day.  The child has no more strength of his own.  It's the parent's strength that keeps him moving forward.

Do you ever get weary in the Lord's Work?  Do you think in your mind that you just cannot do one more thing?

    I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Philippians 4:13

4-The Rejected-Hand:  I've seen this example too many times and it's heart breaking.  Maybe you have seen it too.  The child is looking up into his or her parents face and is reaching out to grab their parents hand only for the parent to move their hand away from being grasped.  Or when the child does get his or her hand in their parents hand, the parent shakes loose of the child.

Let me tell you, Friend, God will NEVER shake you loose!  He Loves Holding our Hands!  Even when we are not reaching His way, even when we are rebellious, when we have sinned, when we ignore His pleadings, He is always ready to Hold our Hands!

He will NOT let go!  

    ...but His hand is stretched out still.  Isaiah 10:4b

5-Joined Hands-This is my favorite!  It's when the parent is joyfully holding the hand of their child, and the child is joyfully holding their parent's hand right back!  The child has a right relationship with his or her parent.  The child is trusting them, submitted to them in love.  They are allowing the parent to lead them.  They are resting in the fact that they are the ones being held!  Not only are we held, but we are engraved on the palms of our Saviour's Hand!

    Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;  Isaiah 49:16

There is no place I would rather be, then in the hands of my Saviour!

    But that's just me!