Day 56: Jesus, Your Hand Is Mighty

Have you discovered the “mighty hand” of the Lord today? Peter sensed the mighty hand of God most in the fiery trial. He gives direction about the mighty hand when you are suffering. He says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). I don’t know about you, but I have experienced those times when the Lord seemingly refuses to let go on one particular point. I can choose to walk away, not trust, and fall into despair. And the temptation is great to do exactly that—the mountain I must climb is too high, seemingly too steep and treacherous. And the mighty hand of God is waiting, pressing down on me, urging me to make the alternative, seemingly more difficult, “God choice” of drawing near, believing BIG with a HUGE trust empowered by the Holy Spirit and inspired by God’s Word, and ultimately walking with hope in my heart.

The Lord’s mighty hand will help you press through to a new and greater faith. I love how Oswald Chambers puts it in My Utmost For His Highest (November 1 reading): “The first thing God does with us is to get us based on rugged Reality until we do not care what becomes of us individually as long as He gets His way for the purpose of His redemption. Why shouldn’t we go through heartbreaks? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us fall and collapse at the first grip of pain; we sit down on the threshold of God’s purpose and die away of self-pity, and all so-called Christian sympathy will aid us to our death bed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, and says—Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine. If through a broken heart, God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart.”

Do you need to press through the pain and on to a higher place in your relationship with Christ? He will help you make this next step of faith into a deeper devotion and greater trust. Habakkuk discovered a new ability to believe God in loss—his crop had failed, the fields weren’t producing food, and there were no cattle in the stalls. Here’s the place that God enabled him to travel—he said, “…yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:18-19). Jeremiah discovered this same joy and hope in his own temptation to despair in the trials: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23).

Do you see the secret? Grasp God’s mighty hand, hold on to Him, and press through the trial to the place where the Lord is leading you. You cannot see it now for the fog is heavy. But remember, the shadow of His hand on you has a bright side—He is present and you are not alone. And He is greater than any trial you face. So today, make that “God choice”. Refuse to give up, stand strong on His Word, and press through to a new joy and hope given to you through the power of the Holy Spirit. Here’s the promise to embrace, trust, and live out today: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10).

My Response: Lord Jesus, I find in myself a tendency toward self-pity and a readiness to give up at the first hint of pain and suffering. Will You strengthen me today with Your mighty hand, and help me press through to faith, trust, and hope in You? Thank You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.