Holding your hand

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. — Psalm 73:23

One of the joys of being with kids is holding their hands. We do it to keep them safe while crossing the street, or to keep them from getting lost in a crowd. And whenever they stumble and lose their footing, we grab their little hands tighter to keep them from falling.

That’s what God does for us. Inevitably there are stones and cracks that trip us up on the sidewalks of life. That’s why it’s easy to identify with the psalmist, who said, “My steps had nearly slipped” (Ps. 73:2).

We all face a variety of issues that threaten to make us stumble. For the psalmist Asaph, seeing the prosperity of the wicked caused him to question the goodness of God. But God squeezed his hand and reassured him that, given the judgment of God, the wicked do not really prosper. True prosperity, the psalmist discovered, was found in the fact that God was always with him: “You hold me by my right hand” (v. 23). And just for good measure, God reminded him that He would also guide him through life and ultimately welcome him home to heaven (v. 24). How good is that!

So, next time you stumble, remember that the powerful hand of God is holding your hand and walking you through life — all the way home! — Joe Stowell

Many things about tomorrow

I don’t seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand. — Stanphill

READ: Psalm 73

Let God do the holding and you do the trusting.

The Bible in one year:

• Hosea 4-6

• Proverbs 20:11-20