I Want to Hold Your Hand 

Hand holding. The earliest signs of a budding romance. Or the protective grasp of an adult on a child in their care. Or a sign of tender affection for a friend.

For some reason, whenever I hear about hand holding, I can’t help but think of the Beatles song, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” with the British quartet talking about feeling happy inside as a result of the simple gesture.

Oh please say to me
You’ll let me be your man
And please say to me
You’ll let me hold your hand
Now, let me hold your hand
I want to hold your hand

But after Mo presented tonight’s prayer meeting,* I don’t think the Beatles will be the first thing to come to mind when I hear about hand holding anymore.

In talking about Bible promises when times get tough, he referred us to Isaiah 43:13:

For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ NKJV.

Mo then pointed out two times that God stretched out His hand. The first was delivering the children of Israel from their Egyptian bondage:

Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? Deuteronomy 4:34, NKJV.

The second, of course, was Jesus on the cross, who stretched out His arms, His hands pierced by the nails holding him there, to reconcile us as sinners to Him. This is why we have the encouragement from Isaiah “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” Isaiah 49:16, NKJV.

Hands of love. Hands of strength and safety. Hands of encouragement. Jesus reached out to hold our hand. I want to hold His hand.

*I don’t think I have mentioned this elsewhere yet. Mo, the one who’s hand I love to hold, is a pastor. So yes, I am a pastor’s wife. Definitely a new, unexpected life role, but so far, so good!

2 Comments

  1. Beautiful pattern you/Mo have pointed out here as a team. *He* wants to hold our hands. Humbled as all get out = us.

  2. Amen! Thanks Kendra!