Loosen Your Grip

 

I remember the first time I rode on a big roller coaster. As we started the first drop, I had a death grip on the bar (you probably can still find my fingerprints on it). Now that was totally unnecessary. Between my seat belt and the restraining bar I wasn’t going anywhere.  Nevertheless, it was comforting to me to have a grip on something.

 

As Christians, we know that we are in God’s hands. He is always watching over us and will be our help in time of trouble. It can be easy to forget that when we are in the midst of trials. Our first instinct is to grab onto something that is under our control. We may rely on our intellect, on advice from others, or on our “gut instinct”.  They may provide some aid and comfort but they all have difficulty in helping with those trials which affect us to the depth of our being. For these, we need to turn to God who is the source of all comfort.

 

There are verses throughout the Bible dealing with God’s aid in a variety of circumstances from personal trials, sickness, loss of a loved one and many more. They can easily be found online (see , for example, https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/trusting-god-verses.html). While these verses may be helpful, the deep troubles of life often require more.

 

In times of trial, we need to be able let go of whatever we are holding onto for support and hold onto God, who is our unfailing support. We should try to draw closer to Him, in prayer, in His word, and in the counsel and assistance of Christian pastors, counselors, friends, and family. We should never forget that God always keeps His promises and that Jesus quoted from Isaiah at the beginning of His ministry,

 

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…..to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isa. 61:1-3).