Holding Hands with God
When I was a young mom, one of my greatest fears was losing one of our boys. At times, I allowed that fear to smother my faith and twist my thinking. Even after praying for God’s protection over my boys, I still struggled with letting go and trusting God.
That twisted thinking allowed Satan to get a foothold in my spiritual walk. My prayer life was rote. I said the right words, but I knew there was distance between God and me.
Well, God changed that by making one of my greatest fears nearly come true.
As I journeyed through one of the most difficult seasons of my life, I had to learn to trust God and live by faith for my sons’ futures. As I rediscovered a deeper prayer life, I also learned three elements of faith.
Unwavering Faith
Over ten years ago, I read about a single mother whose family lived in a poverty-ridded neighborhood. She put her children in God’s hands. Even while attending one son’s funeral, she said he was still in God’s hands.
I couldn’t help wondering, how could she have such faith while grieving the loss of her son?
Life-changing Faith
Nine years ago, we were thrust into a situation where our youngest son’s life hung in the balance. For ten days, my husband and I camped out by his bedside in the critical care unit of a hospital three hours from our house.
Through the power of social media, I had friends around the world praying for our son’s recovery. That experience was life-changing for me, and it deepened my faith.
You see, during that time, I had been walking through a winter season. My heart was frozen due to the constant hits our family had experienced—my mother’s second heart attack, the loss of both of our fathers, and other family situations that derailed me emotionally and spiritually. But God stayed close.
Renewed Faith
As I sat by my son, I prayed the most honest, heart-wrenching prayer of my life, laying all of it at God’s feet. I was exhausted, mentally and physically, and my heart hurt so badly. I was in a constant state of grief. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. Then, in the early hours of one morning, I felt like someone had wrapped me in a warm blanket fresh from the dryer. It was then that I realized I had just held hands with God. I knew he was with us, no matter the outcome.
Fear gets in the way of our faith. We want to trust God, but maybe our experiences have proven that trust seems almost unobtainable.
I have family members and friends who deal with a lot of fear and anxiety. If they let them, those deep-seated fears can take over their lives. Even though they know in their hearts that God is with them, sometimes they struggle to let go of those fears and embrace the freedom that trusting in God offers. They can be afraid to take his hand.
I’ve experienced fear. However, many people live with levels of fear beyond I can’t comprehend. Holding hands with God can be tough, and it’s a growing process for everyone, including Christians. Fear is a great motivator for wanting to control our situations. Admit it—at times we think we know more than God.
Protected Faith
Last summer, we visited our oldest son and his family. We took our son and our granddaughter to a nearby park to fly kites. As my son and his daughter walked in front of us, I took a picture of him tenderly holding her hand. She’d placed her hand in his, knowing without a doubt that he would guide her, protect her, and keep her safe.
We need to have that kind of protected faith.
I’m not always quick to grab God’s hand when I’m going through a tough time. I admit to having days of shaky faith. No matter how shaky or faithless I am, God remains patient and faithful with me.
In fact, just this past week, our family was rocked with some shocking news. During the difficult weeks ahead, I hope I have the courage to lean into Him. In fact, the morning after hearing the news, I wrote in my prayer journal and asked God for peace and courage for what we were about to face. After all, holding hands with God means trusting him wholly and letting go of our fears.
Recently, I heard the radio DJ of our local Family Life Network say, “God’s plans are always greater than your disappointments.” I think that’s something we all need to remember. He is faithful. He is our protector. He wants us to take his hand and trust him.
With that in mind, Joshua 1:9 is one of my go-to verses when fear rears its ugly head:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV)
Your turn: How do you face your fears? How has holding hands with God been a growing process for you?
Heart, home, and faith have always been important to , so writing stories with those elements come naturally. Represented by Cynthia Ruchti of Books & Such Literary Management, Lisa is an award-winning author for Love Inspired, writing contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after. Her newest book, Rescuing Her Ranch, releases in February 2023. She is the operations manager for Novel Academy, an online writing school powered by My Book Therapy. Happily married to her own real-life hero for over thirty years, Lisa and her husband have two grown sons with their family expanding to include a future daughter-in-law and a granddaughter. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys quality family time and being creative with words, photos, fibers, and papers. Learn more about her at lisajordanbooks.com where she blogs twice a month and hosts a #TellHisStory link-up party.
Photograph © Marina Abrosimova, used with permission
