Hand in Hand

Curiosity and wonder have captivated her inquisitive mind and she toddles off, wanting to explore.

While she is blissfully unaware of anything beyond her field of vision, I see the potential dangers.

"Give me your hand sweetheart."

Sometimes, she'll turn around with a big grin and willingly slip her tiny hand in mine. I praise her wise decision. "Thank you, honey, you're a good girl to walk with Grandma."

Other times she looks me straight in the eye as she pulls her hand close to her chest and very clearly and defiantly says "no!"

I don't lose my patience. I know she is learning and at the ripe old age of two, testing boundaries.

But I repeat myself a little firmer, knowing what is best for her. "Give me your hand sweetie." I hold out my hand to encourage the right decision on her part.

I don't love her more or less based on her reply. 

I don't think I could possibly love this little girl any more than I already do and I can't imagine ever loving her less than with every fiber of my being.

Eventually, as she matures and our relationship grows I hope she will come to trust me more, believing my request is in her best interest so the defiant "no's" will be fewer.

Right now, I love that she has already begun to invite me on her adventures.

"C'mon Gamma" is one of the sweetest phrases I've ever heard. 

She flashes a toothy smile and grabs my hand or beckons me forward by opening her hand wide, clenching it closed and opening it again.

I am smitten.

My friends, our walk with God is so very similar. The world around us entices us, and sometimes we are tempted to wander off.

"Give me your hand" we hear the Father say.

If we are wise, we turn back toward Him and grasp His hand.

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:9-10

But sometimes, we are stubborn and defiant. Even though we know He leads us in the way of life, we pull back our hand and assert ourselves loud and foolishly proud.

"No!" we declare.

Even when we reject Him, He loves us still - He couldn't love us any more than He already does - and rather than losing patience, He tells us His mercies are new each morning.

But He also lovingly and firmly repeats Himself.

"Give me your hand."

His thoughts are higher than ours and His ways are higher too. He sees far beyond our limited field of vision and seeks to spare us from dangerous circumstances.

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right and and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

He longs for us to invite Him along into our day. It gives Him pleasure to commune with us.

As our relationship with the Father matures and grows, we learn to trust Him more. We know He desires only the best for us, and our "no's" become less frequent.

As you face this day and all it holds, don't be tempted to strike out on your own.

Slip your hand into His and never let go.