Lately I have been noticing how much hand holding goes on in life. Parents hold their young child’s hand to keep him from running out into the busy street. Adult children holding the hands of their mother as she passes from this earthly life into eternity. Even walking into church with my wife involves holding her hand.
The Bible has a lot to say about hands, but I often wonder why there is a differentiation between the right hand and the left hand. When we read about God’s strength, it is described as His mighty right hand. Ps.118:15 “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” This week I prayed that God would let me hold his hand, but I wanted him to take my left hand so that I could still respond with my own “strong right hand.”
Instead, God did something that I didn’t immediately understand. He brought to mind Psalm 73:21-24 “When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”
I believe that my heavenly Father grabbed ahold of my right hand with his left hand. This prevented me from trying to help myself by using my own right hand, which would likely have created more trouble for me. But it also left God’s mighty right hand free to reign as He knows best. “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Is41:13. Never hesitate to let God hold your hand, and if you get an opportunity to hold someone else’s hand, grab it.