Hold On

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you;

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Deuteronomy 31:8

I’ve been in a desert season. There are times when I cannot muster up anything beyond thanking God for this promise. I find comfort in the imagery of these words…God standing by my side, refusing to let go, refusing to turn me over to myself; God protecting me, defending me from the enemy that threatens to destroy me from within.

What kind of love is this that would be so unrelenting in its pursuit of a child who is continually wanting down from Daddy’s lap? It’s God’s kind of love – the kind that surpasses all understanding and the kind that is holding onto me. Like a parent holding fast to the hand of a child, God just won’t let go.

The funny thing is I always thought it was me holding onto Him! I always believed the least I could do, especially during the dry times, was to hang onto Him for all I was worth. Of course, I failed repeatedly which only led to some heavy guilt and condemnation. I set in motion a crazy cycle of thinking the power to rescue me depended on my ability to hold onto God. Doesn’t this just reveal so clearly who I thought was in control?

Yet God, in His infinite wisdom, let me believe my own lie…because, according to this scripture, He knew what lay ahead of me and He knew I would eventually come to the end of myself and discover the truth – He’s been holding onto me all along.

I am holding God’s hand in this dry season and thank goodness it’s because He refuses to let me go!