Psalm 145: 1-4, 8-13
Matthew 11: 7-15
Isaiah 41: 13-20
“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.” (Is 41: 13)
We may think we only need God to hold our hand when times are tough, when we have fallen and need a hand up.
When times are good, when we feel blessed, we often let go of that hand, running ahead joyfully. We live life believing that our God-given gifts are there for us to use to achieve our own goals, that if we want it to happen, God must want it for us too.
We forget that we need to always hang on to God’s hand, seeking first the kingdom of God, looking to God for perpetual guidance on how to use our gifts and how to do God’s will. It can be hard to remember that we can do nothing without God, nor do we have anything without God. It is God who “turns the parched ground into springs” (v. 18), giving us water, life, food, even the air we breathe.
So, it stands to reason that without God we cannot truly love, find peace or spread peace. This comes only when we keep hold of God’s hand in trust, not fearing, knowing God will help us if we but continually ask for it in both good times and bad.
It is the “Prince of Peace” that we look to during this season of Christmas and whose hand we ultimately hold. Amen.
– Nancy Scott
