Psalm 63:8 – My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

THEME OF THE DAY. SAFE IN GOD’S HANDS. The voice came from the vicinity of where our dinner table is located, “Would you please come and hold this for me?” My wife was packing something away and needed another hand. So, to the rescue I came, not with one hand, but two and the task not able to be accomplished by one was easily taken care of. All she needed was someone to come alongside with another set of helping hands.

Have we recently thought about the security and help we find in God’s hands? As we walk through this sin-cursed and treacherous world, no safer place exists than walking spiritually and by faith, hand in hand with the Lord Jesus. And He has told us with encouraging words the comfort, strength, and security that lies in His and even His Father’s hands. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:27-30). Not only are we safe in the hands of the Lord Jesus, but He provides for us even more joyful assurance by telling us our Father also holds us up by His hand. So, if we are struggling with failing and suffering feelings of insecurity, rest in the hands of our God. They are able, strong, and willing to see us through whatever we are experiencing. And this theme of God’s helping hands isn’t just in the Gospel of John.

In the Psalms, the words “right hand” as pertaining to the Lord appear over forty times describing His care, love, authority, and power. Do a study sometime along the lines of “God’s hands” and be encouraged as they show us His steadfast love and faithfulness to His own. But before we undertake such a study, let’s consider one application from today’s scripture and the work of God holding us up by His loving and strong hands.

God upholding us by His strong hands does not mean we will be prevented from failing in the Christian life. The reality is we do fail. A lot, but don’t be discouraged. Even in our failings to measure up to God’s standard for His children, they become events He uses for our spiritual growth. When we read in God’s Word, “All things work together for good to those who love God”, that doesn’t just mean success in all things. It includes our failings. Even our sinning. God uses all things for our good and remember, it isn’t our hold on God that keeps us safe, it is His hold on us that keeps us safe (Romans 8:28). A great example of God upholding one of His children in their failings is the Apostle Peter. Jesus told this prideful, self-assured disciple, “You are going to deny and fail me.” Peter, revealing his spiritual immaturity and impulsiveness replied, “No, sir. Not me. You are wrong. I will never deny You” (Matthew 26:30-35). Well, we know the story. He did, but this failing was for his good and in his failing, the Lord never let His hold on Peter go – “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32). Notice what failed and what didn’t fail. Peter, the man, the sinful man, failed miserably. He did what he said he would never do. Welcome painful, but needed lesson of humility, Peter. However, his faith did not fail. It couldn’t. Why? Two reasons. Faith is a gift from God and He never takes back His gifts. And Jesus prayed for him that his faith would not fail. What Jesus prays for, gets answered, and we may even look at His prayer as His “helping hands” holding up Peter in time of failing. Beloved, we will fall in walking with the Lord, but we will not fall away from the Lord. We can’t. His hand upholds us, even in our failings. So, be lifted up, downcast and discouraged believer. We might feel we are walking alone, but there is a strong, loving, invisible Hand holding us all the way home; home to heaven when we will literally see those nail-scarred hands which brought us there.

PRAYER: “Father, I praise You that I am forever safe in Your hands and the hands of Your Son.”

QUOTE: “We will fall in the Christian life but we will never fall away in the Christian life for we are kept by divine power.”