struggle

I see it as the preschool students walk through the halls of church, delighting in the fact that it’s their turn to slip their tiny fingers into the slightly larger ones of the teacher. Or as my “Little Sister” (through Big Brothers Big Sisters) finds a way to juggle the stuff she’s carrying just so she can have an open hand to reach over and grab mine.

There’s just something comforting about hand-holding. It’s such a simple touch, yet powerful. As I headed out to run and pray for Sam this morning, I had some Scripture playing through my headphones. I realized Saturday that 4-miles is along time to stay focused on praying and thought maybe some music or Scripture would help me focus my prayers for beautiful Samantha Love. Just steps into my run, God started blowing me away with His Word and even now, and hour after returning, His Words are still echoing, bouncing off the walls of my heart.

Isaiah 43 has especially been on my heart a lot lately, but as I ran this morning, praying for Sam, the words of verse 13 sunk even deeper into my soul:

For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.”

As those words played through my headphones, I could just picture God, the One whose hand only verses before was describe as being able to mark off the heavens with its span and hold all the water of the world in the hallow of it (Isaiah 40:12), that same hand was, in that moment reaching down and taking hold of Sam’s hand, of Grace’s hand, reminding them: I’m right here. I can only imagine the heartache Grace must have felt days ago as she had to let go of that little girl’s hands and fly 5,577 miles away. So as I ran, I prayed for Grace’s heart to be comforted knowing that God is holding her little girl’s hand and will never let her go.

As my feet ran the distance, God’s truth ran deeper in my heart: He holds MY hand, too.

Right now, in moments when a little comfort would be nice, He’s there saying “Don’t fear, my child, I’m walking with you.” He’s holding the hand of my brother-in-law who will soon leave the comfort of his home and the joy of holding his daughter and wife’s hands to go to fight for our freedom in this country. He’s with Elizabeth and Karlie, holding their hands as Kevin is away. He’s holding the hand of a beautiful friend of mine facing a series of struggles that just don’t ever seem to end. His fingers interlock with my teammates and the volunteers at church constantly guiding and directing us into His vision and plan. He holds the hands of the high school students and young adults I interact with each week in these moments of transition and decision in their lives. He holds the family and friends far away from me whose hands I wish I could hold right now as they walk through trials and joyful celebration and everything in between.

He hold’s our hands.

And there is comfort in His grasp despite anything going on around us.

Have you ever had one of THOSE days… I think you know the kind I’m talking about:

Those days when nothing bad really happens, but from the moment your feet hit the floor (and perhaps before) you realize everything is going to be a battle.

Those days when it seems Satan got a head start on the day… on your heart.
Where every lie, distraction, or frustration possible makes it in, and God’s request for us to “guard your heart” (Prov 4:23) becomes harder with each passing moment.
Oh you want to believe the truth: you are beautiful, you are enough, you are Mine! But each truth seems to be countered with a million lies.

Those days when you’re in the Word and you’re in prayer but the battle still just feels too big.

Those days when you long for the comfort and care of another human being and God says, “look to me” Yet we fight against that, telling God, “that’s not good enough.”

Those days when God shows up in amazing, perhaps even miraculous ways, and our response is all too often… “Thanks, God, BUT…”

Those days when the only way to describe yourself is as “in a funk”… unsure of what that means, how you got there, nor when or how it will end.

Those days when finally, you turn to God and say, “I JUST CAN’T FIGHT ANYMORE!”
And He simply replies, “I will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Ex 14:14)

Slowly, THAT truth is one you can hold onto, one you can trust, one you can rest and wait in until the funk passes…

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-30)

And the paradox rings true in Christ: our strength builds in giving up.

The battle is too big … for me to fight alone. But our God is the everlasting God, the Creator of the earth… nothing is too big for Him.

Tag: struggle

On Hand-Holding…

One of THOSE days