Only His Hand

“I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you.’

“Fear not..!
I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;
    your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

“When the poor and needy seek water,
    and there is none,
    and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them;
    I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
    and fountains in the midst of the valleys.
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
    and the dry land springs of water.
I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
    the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.
I will set in the desert the cypress,
    the plane and the pine together,
that they may see and know,
    may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah 41:13-14,17-20

Words of comfort bathe Israel in hope. In all their trouble, God their helper is nigh, holding their right hand, standing near to reassure, to redeem. His promises are given to dissolve their fear, wash away the crustiness of angst and despair, and reawaken slumbering vitality. Where they thirsted for purpose and fruitfulness, He would slake with answers and meaning. Where they were lacking, He would satisfy. He would exchange barrenness with fertile growth, their wilderness of soul with joy and gladness. Their very drought and want made way for them to see the Creator exercise His power, that only His hand could refresh, deliver, create, satisfy.

God meets us in hard places. Do we have eyes willing to see the movement of His almighty, generous hand? A piece of shocking news arrives, a sobering medical result is received, an impossible hurt is ground deeper, a sorrow lingers, a fire or flood destroys. Can we trace His love in every bereavement? When we do, the only response is to bow and acknowledge the hand of the Lord has done this.

What are we seeking, fearing, wanting? Would we believe and look for God’s hand to redeem parched places, water arid hearts, revive spirits, and support us in the waiting? How do His sure promises help and give hope?

God alone grants endurance to triumph and smooths balm in grief. He measures each gift- and they are gifts- to display His compassion and care. In laughter, in tears, He breaks through so that we see and know, and may consider and understand, that it has been His hand all along the way. We can always trust His good and redemptive purposes, His perfect sanctifying. (Psalm 30:5; James 1:2-4)

“Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth;
shelters thee under his wings, and so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who will prosper thy work and defend thee;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends thee.” ~Joachim Neander (1680)

Loving Lord, teach me to look for Your hand, trusting You to work in such a way I know You have done it.