Take the Hand of Your Heavenly Father  

   

Our daughter-in-law recently posted a video of their family hiking along a trail beside a river. It showed several occasions when our two-year-old grandson was facing a rather rocky slope in the path. Each time you could see his dad in the picture with his hand outstretched, offering to provide assistance for the little guy in those precarious places. However, our grandson seemed to pay no attention to that option of grabbing his father’s hand. He resolutely bent down, got his hands on the rocks, and made his ascent or descent along the path without assistance. I couldn’t help but chuckle at his insistent independence.

Let’s never forget that as we travel along our path in life, our Heavenly Father is always holding out His hand for us to take. He is there right beside His children all the way. He doesn’t leave us alone to face the rough spots we encounter. Not only is He there, but He reaches out to offer us His help. Just imagine. The powerful hand that parted the waters of the Red Sea, the hand that healed the sick and raised the dead, the hand that created the universe is reaching out to us. He is offering us guidance from His storehouse of infinite wisdom. He is inviting us to let Him strengthen us with His almighty power. What a great opportunity God gives us to be directed and upheld by His loving, powerful hand.

However, all too often we are like my young grandson, aren’t we? We ignore or shun that outstretched hand. While that tendency may be admirable in a child seeking to spread his wings and assert his independence, it shows a lack of wisdom on our part when we act similarly in relation to our Heavenly Father. While God wants us to grow and become stronger, He never wants us to lose sight of our reliance on Him. He may call on us to face challenges, overcome obstacles, to stand firm when the ground we are on gets slippery, but He doesn’t expect us to do it on our own. He wants us to go through our lives hand-in-hand with Him. We climb our rocks prayerfully, looking to the Lord for the guidance, strength, and ability to go wherever He is leading us. We should never lose sight of His presence and should never let go of His hand.

It reminds me of an occasion recounted in the Bible when King Asa of Judah was facing the rocky path of an attack from another kingdom. Instead of reaching out for God’s hand as he had done on a previous occasion, this time he reached out to the king of Syria for help. His actions resulted in a reprieve from being attacked, but it also led to a rebuke from God. He told Asa that he had missed out on an opportunity for victory and blessing. God declared a truth to Asa that still stands today – “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (II Chronicles 16:9).

God wants to show His power on behalf of His children. He is looking for people who will rely on Him rather than on themselves or other means. He wants us to take His hand and let Him show us what great things He can do in our lives. Are we willing to admit our need for help and accept His gracious invitation?

Whatever path you are on today, whether smooth or rocky, level or steep, don’t try to tackle it alone or in your own strength. Don’t miss out on the victory and blessing of taking hold of the hand of God.