Safe In His Hands

A couple weeks ago some friends from Wyoming came to stay with us and I found myself out in the dusk hours between day and night teaching the 10-year-old grandson to catch fireflies. At first, he tried to catch them by slapping his hands together in a squashing manner. I stopped him and told him to watch the way I did it... as we waited for another firefly to show it's self he watched my every move eager to learn the secret to catching these little creatures.

Flash... Flash... Flash...

Gently I cupped my hands around the spot where a flash of light had been- and to his delight seconds later a warm glow flashed through my cupped fingers.

As I opened my hand to reveal the little bug sitting safely in the hollow between my hands,  the bug sat unharmed and again spread its wings took to the sky. A small little light echoing its path across the darkening yard.

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I explained to him it was all in the way you caught it, it must be in the palm of your cupped hand or you'll only crush its little body...

With eager child-like enthusiasm, he chased these magical creatures through the yard as the stars began to peek through the heavens above. Dashing back and forth as little flashes gave away the location of the little bugs until his hands closed around them bringing them close so he could study them as the flashed in his hand before returning to the air and the game continued.

In much the same way as that tiny firefly was safe and sound from harm in my palm, God holds us securely in the palm of his hand. The creator of the universe, the one who spoke the world into creation, whose breath gives life to every living thing holds you in His hand.

So often we find ourselves feeling like we've been tossed and turned in the storms of life, we find ourselves afraid in the face of the storm and forget that despite all of this His hands encircle us. Even when we are tired, when we don't understand, when we are hurting His hands hold us and sustain us.

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 NIV