While reading my morning devotional, a prayer from Jeremiah 32:17 was given – “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

Immediately, my mind flipped to a childhood memory. Due to my father’s work, we moved quite often in those growing-up days. In one house, I had an upstairs bedroom. I was about seven years old and at night, I feared walking up into the dark. So from the bottom of the stairs, my dad said, “I’ll hold out my hand.”

Slowly, I climbed up, looking back every few steps as I gradually made it to the top and turned on the only light switch. Dad’s hand stayed outstretched until I made it. Thinking back on that bedtime vigil, I didn’t seem to question what an outstreched arm could do. I just had peace that his outstretched arm would protect me.

Fast forward to my college days. My youth director bequeathed me with a verse from Isaiah 41:13 – For I the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying unto you, “Fear not, I will help you.” I made a small poster of that verse to hang on my dorm room wall and looked at it quite often.

With those same hands, he “stretches out the heavens like a canopy and spreads them out like a tent to live in.” Isaiah 40:22

As the children of God were wandering in the wilderness and fearful of what was to come in the new land, he reminded them of what he had done to overcome the Pharaoh in Egypt. “You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the Lord brought you out. The Lord your God will do the same to all the people you now fear.” Deuteronomy 7:19

What fears are you facing? What unsettles you? Keep in mind that image of his outstretched arm, that strong hand holding you fast.

If you know one of the latest  praise songs, He Will Hold Me Fast, by Keith and Kristyn Getty, you might enjoy singing a couple of verses just now.

 “When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast.

When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast.

I could never keep my hold through life’s fearful path.

For my love is often cold, He must hold me fast.

He will hold me fast. He will hold me fast.

For my Savior loves me so. He will hold me fast.”

~ Joyce ~

By the way, I finally contacted all the neighbors before we left Louisville!