God, Hold Me.

When I lost my daughter, Taylor, there were no words for the pain.

There still aren’t.

Losing a child is nothing I can adequately explain to someone who hasn’t walked it. The grief doesn’t come in stages like the books say. It comes in waves that knock you flat when you least expect it.

Maybe you haven't lost a child, but another loss has punched you in the gut. Perhaps the loss of a career or your marriage.

In those first raw days, I came to the realization that God is the only One who could hold me on earth and hold my sweet girl in heaven at the same time. That knowledge didn’t fix the pain. It certainly didn’t bring her back. But it anchored me to truth when everything else was a tangled mess.

Isaiah 41:13 says God takes hold of your right hand. He's not just putting an empathetic hand on your shoulder. It's not like He's giving you a pat on the back. He is grabbing your hand, close and personal.

When we've taken vacations and walked across piers over the ocean, my husband gripped the hands of our children. Every inch of his body language said, "I'm not letting go. You are safe." He has even said, "It's ok. I've got you" as he looked down into their little faces.

This is what our great God does. He is speaking into your fear. He says, "Do not fear. I've got you. You're good."

When your world has shattered and you can’t imagine how you’ll survive the next hour, you don’t need a theology lesson. You need to know that God holds you.

Soul Care Moment

Open your hands, palms up. Picture God reaching for your right hand. Let yourself be held for just a moment.

Pray With Me

God, I need to feel Your love wrapped around me. The pain of life is far too agonizing, and my mind can’t rationalize my emotions. Blanket my spirit with Your peace and make Yourself known to me. For in You, I move and have my being. Hold me close, Jesus. Amen.

Truth to Carry

Pain cannot grip you tighter than God's grace.