The Joy of Holding Hands
With your hand on the doorknob of a new year you can enter its maze of days with boldness.
His power is revealed in His name: “I am your God.” The title used by Isaiah and translated “god” is “Elah” or “Eloah.” “El” means “the strong one.” Elah speaks of His durability. It was also used to speak of binding oneself with an oath; it speaks of faithfulness.
Therefore, the God who has promised to be with you is the Strong Durable One who has bound Himself to you with an oath.
He has power to control. The Bible speaks of the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit (II Thess. 2: 7). That is, how the Holy Spirit today is limiting the power of the forces of evil. Some day He will be relieved of this work and evil will be rampant. That is called the Great Tribulation.
He has the power to conserve. Biblically we are told He gives His angels charge over us to keep us (Matt. 4: 6). We will never know all that He has spared us without us knowing it. How many close calls have you had about which you knew that your safety can only be explained in light of the Lord’s angels conserving you?
He has the power to convert. To convert means to change. We see this with cars and toys. Their image and configuration can be converted from one form and use to another. The Lord does this in our lives.
Triplets of certainty are offered.
The “I will” of Strength
When my weakness leans on His might, all is right.
Our greatest victories are won when we realize our weakness and rely on His strength. It is when we forget ourselves that we allow Him to do things through us which are remembered.
The Lord doesn’t grow saints in greenhouse environments where all is ideal. He doesn’t shield us from those trials by which faith is strengthened.
A well-intending do-gooder visited a radiant Christian lady who had been left paralyzed by polio. The visitor said, “I suppose an illness like this does color one’s life doesn’t it?” That great soul responded from her bed: “Yes, it does color one’s life, but I choose the color!”
When we whine, complain, and grumble we are choosing the colors. When we praise, give thanks, and rejoice, we are also choosing colors. What does your crayon box look like?
Isaiah put things in perspective when he wrote, “fear not, you worm of Jacob… says the Lord.” It is El Alah, the all mighty One who makes an oath to help us. You can pray: “Lord, I will provide the weakness, if you will provide the strength.”
The “I will” of Sharing. The strength we need is not something but Someone.
With courage we can say, “The Lord is my helper” (Heb. 13:6).
With the Psalmist we can declare, “You are my help” (70:5).
The Hebrew text of Isaiah 46: 10 indicates God runs out speedily to meet and help His children.
The “I will” of Support.
“I will strengthen you… I will help you… I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41: 13 notes: “I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you’”.