It's a comforting concept, that idea of being held by God and never being forsaken. But is it just a concept in our mind or something that actually sustains us? When life seems hard and confusing do our lives convey that we really believe in a God who cares for His children, who holds us in His arms, who keeps us safe and who never leaves us? No matter what life looks like to us, we can rest assured that this is in fact true of our God!
In Isaiah 40:11 we read, "He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. Psalm 68:19 reiterates this idea of being held and carried: "Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior. For each day He carries us in His arms." When you really stop and think about it it's pretty amazing! The God of the universe, the Creator of all things, the Savior of our souls, is also our Shepherd and Father. In the same way that a good shepherd cares for and carries His sheep, God carries us. And in the same way that a loving father holds and cares for his children, God holds us. He is the One we can always run to and always lean on.
When we really believe this, we know we are safe. Jesus Himself said in John 10:29, "My Father, who has given them all to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father's hand. That means that nothing and no one can change our relationship with God. Circumstances may sometimes make it difficult to remember that God is holding us but whether we feel like we are being held or not, absolutely nothing can take us out of His hands! At other times, the enemy may try to convince us that we are not really His or that God does not really care at all, but in those moments we must remember that Satan is the father of lies. God however, cannot lie and so we can say with the psalmist: "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, will keep me safe" (Psalm 4:8)
In addition, when we believe that God will never leave us, it gives us strength far beyond our own. In Deuteronomy 31:6;8 it says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear...for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." These words were spoken to Joshua in preparation for entering the promised land but they are just as true for us today! Heaven is our promised land and as we journey through our time here on earth, it is God who goes before us and gives us strength to build His Kingdom here!
So the next time you hear the song In Your Arms, let it be an anthem of a sustaining belief and not simply a nice concept! And if you've never heard it, check it out...it's one of my favorites!!
