I pen these words just after having arrived back home from attending my four year old grandson’s preschool graduation ceremony. I freely admit that, as his class took the stage, my face beamed with pride. I could not help it; for quite naturally, my heart was swollen with joy.
Along with his classmates, his part in the program was to sing a couple of songs. The first of these was “If You’re Happy and You Know It…” Perhaps you know the various stanzas: “Clap Your Hands”, “Stomp Your Feet”, “Jump up and Down”, etc… I could well relate to the lyrics!
The second song sung was “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands”. Again, the verses are fairly familiar… “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”, “He’s Got You And Me, Sister (or Brother), In His Hands”, “He’s Got Everybody Here In His Hands”. Yet again, I found the words resonating in my heart!
You see, this day was not just special because my oldest grandson was graduating from four year old preschool. It was also special because of the news we all earlier received as a family.
My sister found out about four months ago that she had a recurrence stemming from an earlier bout with ovarian cancer. She has thus spent the last four months undergoing a half-dozen rounds of intense and agonizing chemotherapy. Today was the long awaited day in which she received the results of her final scan. And praise the Lord, the doctor pronounced her cancer free!
So, am I happy? You bet! Do I know it? Absolutely! And why is this so? Because along with my sister and the rest of my family, I believe with all my heart that He (the Lord God) has the whole world in his hands! This means that He has us as a family in His hands. And the events of the last four months, though difficult and, at times, even quite painful, clearly prove this. We rejoice in that wonderful truth.
But there is yet more to rejoice over. He not only has my sister and me in His hands. He also has “everybody here” in his hands. And this includes you, my friend!
Are you currently in an uncertain place? Are you even now facing a difficult stretch? Then take it from some who have been where you are – “God is good! All the time!”
My sister is an abidingly spiritual person. She is steeped in holy scripture. And one of the passages she has chosen to claim is Psalm 91…
1Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
We are living proof that God honors His word. Neither the “pestilence that stalks in the darkness” nor “the plague that destroys at midday” has prevailed against her. Why? Because she has chosen to dwell in the shelter of the Most High, and to rest in the shadow of the Almighty. And true to His promises, He has chosen to save her!
Given what all she has been through over the last few months, that makes today a happy day!
SCRIPTURE SOURCE:
https://biblehub.com/niv/psalms/91.htm.
Along with his classmates, his part in the program was to sing a couple of songs. The first of these was “If You’re Happy and You Know It…” Perhaps you know the various stanzas: “Clap Your Hands”, “Stomp Your Feet”, “Jump up and Down”, etc… I could well relate to the lyrics!
The second song sung was “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands”. Again, the verses are fairly familiar… “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”, “He’s Got You And Me, Sister (or Brother), In His Hands”, “He’s Got Everybody Here In His Hands”. Yet again, I found the words resonating in my heart!
You see, this day was not just special because my oldest grandson was graduating from four year old preschool. It was also special because of the news we all earlier received as a family.
My sister found out about four months ago that she had a recurrence stemming from an earlier bout with ovarian cancer. She has thus spent the last four months undergoing a half-dozen rounds of intense and agonizing chemotherapy. Today was the long awaited day in which she received the results of her final scan. And praise the Lord, the doctor pronounced her cancer free!
So, am I happy? You bet! Do I know it? Absolutely! And why is this so? Because along with my sister and the rest of my family, I believe with all my heart that He (the Lord God) has the whole world in his hands! This means that He has us as a family in His hands. And the events of the last four months, though difficult and, at times, even quite painful, clearly prove this. We rejoice in that wonderful truth.
But there is yet more to rejoice over. He not only has my sister and me in His hands. He also has “everybody here” in his hands. And this includes you, my friend!
Are you currently in an uncertain place? Are you even now facing a difficult stretch? Then take it from some who have been where you are – “God is good! All the time!”
My sister is an abidingly spiritual person. She is steeped in holy scripture. And one of the passages she has chosen to claim is Psalm 91…
1Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
We are living proof that God honors His word. Neither the “pestilence that stalks in the darkness” nor “the plague that destroys at midday” has prevailed against her. Why? Because she has chosen to dwell in the shelter of the Most High, and to rest in the shadow of the Almighty. And true to His promises, He has chosen to save her!
Given what all she has been through over the last few months, that makes today a happy day!
SCRIPTURE SOURCE:
https://biblehub.com/niv/psalms/91.htm.