“‘My thoughts are completely different than yours,’
says the LORD.
‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

‘For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’”

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

The first line of William Cowper’s 18th century poem, Light Shining Out of Darkness, has resided in my heart since I heard it years ago:

“God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.”

What comfort! What hope! All of life’s conundrums are in God’s wonder-working hands. He holds the answer to every painful and perplexing “why” and “how” – they are His to reveal, or not to reveal, as He chooses.

The more we learn about God (His character and nature), the more we realize how little we know. The Almighty isn’t just a smarter version of ourselves, as some may think. He is beyond our comprehension. His thoughts and ways are literally “out of this world!”

But that will change in a moment when we meet God face to face! Our faith will become sight. The great mysteries of God will be revealed. And we will glory in His perfection. Oh what a day!

GOD’S HANDWRITING
(by John Oxenham)

He writes with characters too grand
For our short sight to understand;
We catch but broken strokes, and try
To fathom all the mystery
Of withered hopes, of death, of life,
The endless war, the useless strife -
But there, with larger, clearer sight,
We shall see this – His way was right.

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“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.”
Isaiah 41:13

For 56 years (1955-2002), the popular Ask Ann Landers advice column was a regular feature in newspapers across the country. Ann Landers received an average of ten thousand letters each month – nearly all of them from people with problems. Asked if there was one predominant theme in the letters she received, she replied, “The one problem above all others seems to be fear. People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself.”

Fear is a thief – robbing our hearts of peace and confidence; pillaging our potential. Most of our fears are of the “what if” variety. What if I fail? What if I’m rejected? What if I get hurt? What if I write a bad Daily Bible Verse post and readers think poorly of me?” (Just keeping it real!) Do you have a fear-inducing “what if” today?

In the grips of fear, God takes our wringing hands in his and calmly says, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to help you. Trust me.” Embracing the security of God’s presence radically alters our perspective on “what if” and what is before us. Fears vanish. The adventure of life resumes. We can breathe again.

Because we’re human, we’ll always have fears – but we don’t have to give in to them. We can remember the Lord God is our “ever-present help in trouble” – and walk hand in hand with faith in our fearless Companion.

When Jesus takes your hand, He keeps you tight.
When Jesus keeps you tight, he leads you through your whole life.
When Jesus leads you through your life, he brings you safely home.

-Corrie ten Boom, In My Father’s House

LINK the Word:
As loving and protective parents, we often take our child’s hand to help them:  walk safely across the street, get down from playground equipment, etc. Use those opportunities as object lessons for today’s verse. 

LIVE the Word:
Pray with an open hand, thanking the Lord that though you do not see him, you know he’s holding your hand and helping you with whatever struggles you face. Give him the “what if”s that cause you fear.

Pray with an open heart, listening for God’s reassuring voice saying, “I’m holding your right hand, (_your name_). I’m the LORD your God. Don’t be afraid. I’m right here to help you.”

Reach out to someone in the grip of struggle and fear. Give them a call. Write them an encouraging note. Share the reassuring truth of Isaiah 41:13.

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“The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

Some passages of Scripture are so beautiful they summon to be memorized.  This is one. What a treasure to have hidden in our hearts – the assurance of God’s mighty presence and active affection towards us!

The Lord our God sings over us!  Think of it! I have fond childhood memories of my mom singing sweet bedtime songs while tucking me under the covers. On those nights she might have forgotten, I remember calling out to her, “Mom, will you sing me a bedtime song?” And in she’d come…

Meditating on the amazing truth of Zephaniah 3:17, I’ve imagined the Lord singing over me in the same fashion – His voice of indescribable perfection singing lyrics of love and hope to a peaceful melody. And there have been occasions when I’ve called to him from under my covers at night, “Heavenly Father, will you sing me a song?” And in He’d come…

From his deathbed, John Wesley said, “The greatest of all, is, God with us.” How true! And how marvelous to know Almighty God’s presence offers us his great delight, soul-quieting love, and joyful singing!

Click the link below to listen to Zephaniah 3:17 recorded by SEEDS Family Worship. Singing God’s word makes it easy to remember. By the end of the song you (and your kids) will have this comforting verse in your hearts.  This is a great bedtime song to sing to your little ones!

“Mighty to Save” Zephaniah 3:17 by SEEDS Family Worship

“Mighty to Save” is found on the SEEDS of Praise CD – available at my web store.

This post is dedicated to my daughter, Amy, and all the other college students who are starting a new year of learning and living on campus.

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“I have loved you with an everlasting love.”
Jeremiah 31:3

Holocaust survivor, Corrie Ten Boom wrote,

“When I was a little girl, my father used to tuck me into bed at night.  He talked with me, prayed with me, and laid his big hand on my little face.  I did not move because I wanted to keep the feeling of that big hand on my face.  It was a comfort to me.

“Later, when I was in the concentration camp, I would sometimes pray, ‘My heavenly Father, will you lay your hand on my face?’ That would bring me peace, and I would be able to sleep. Because father showed me his fatherly love, I could later understand the heavenly Father’s love.  Fathers and mothers, show your children your love.”

For years, Elizabeth Elliott (widow of the martyred missionary, Jim Elliott) opened her Gateway to Joy radio program each day with these words:  “You are loved with an everlasting love, and underneath are the everlasting arms.  That’s what the Bible says.” I can still recall Elizabeth’s low, steady voice saying those words over the airwaves – and, oh, how they soothed my soul on many-a-day.

Take a moment to meditate on God’s everlasting, unwavering love for you (and your family). Sense his big hand on your face. Rest in his embrace.  Let Him fill your cup to overflowing. And then, love…

*Deuteronomy 33:27

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