Clasp more firmly to His Hand

Yesterday as I wrote a post about some of the daily challenges I face, I thought to
myself, “well that sounds exhausting, no wonder you’re napping so long on the
weekends. How are you even doing everything that you’re doing?” I penned this
poem in response:

I keep my eyes upon my Savior to tread these stormy waves
To turn away might drown me, but I know that Jesus saves
And He who calmed the waters and the winds so long ago
Will keep me safe upon these waves to walk
And I’ll follow
I could not navigate these channels
without the Light to guide me
To illuminate my path ahead,
to lead me on, or hide me
Rock of ages, cleft for me
You set a table before me in the presence of my enemies
Though my body has been ravaged
by an unseen fleet of savage
microscopic hosted frenemies
I tire easily and I return myself to He
Who can restore my soul
And place my feet upon the Rock
The confession, On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
So I clasp more firmly to His hand
Even as this journey leads me on through valleys treacherous

Even when this world would beckon me towards being lecherous
Ever forward march I onward
Until I, weary from the battle
Put my head down
And rest
Knowing yet
You fight for me

Maybe you’re in a similar place. You’re navigating at the speed of life holding
onto Jesus like Lois Lane holds Superman when they go up, up and away. “Please
don’t let me fall, please don’t let me fall.” I wonder sometimes if I’m more on the
side of “Oh ye of little faith,” or “I have not seen such great faith in all of
Jerusalem.” Whichever of those you might more relate to, it’s nice to know that
Jesus can still relate to you. Not that Jesus ever had little faith, but that Jesus spoke
and had relationships with those who had great faith and with those who needed
help with their unbelief.
One of the many Names of Jesus is Wonderful Counselor. If you’ve ever needed
counseling, you might have learned there’s a difference between a terrible
counselor and a really good one. Thank God that He offers us free counseling and
keeps all kinds of hours. If you can only meet with him at 8AM, He’s there. If
you need him at 3AM, he’s there. If you need to keep him on call all throughout
the day, you CAN. You maybe even should, as He instructs us to pray without
ceasing.
Life can be overwhelming. Everywhere you look can be overwhelm. Phil. 4:13
says I can do All things through Christ who strengthens me. I wonder if it would
be better interpreted as, I can do everything I’m supposed to do through Christ who
strengthens me. After all, I cannot do a lot of things. But all the things that I’ve
needed to go through, everything I had to endure, I have made it because of Jesus.
There have been moments where I literally felt it was not possible to go on. Yet
here I am.
Whether you know what I mean because you’ve been there, or your trials are ahead
of you, Jesus promised to be with us even to the very end of the age. Rest assured,

He keeps His promises. He is faithful to the end. “But one thing I do: Forgetting
what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to
win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil.
3:13b-14 Jesus may not deliver me from the trials I am facing, but He will deliver
me from my adversary. He will continue to be my trusted Navigation System until
I get to the other side of this life.
In times of trials, learn the habit of clinging to the One who knows not just the first
steps, but the final ones. In fact, if you learn to cling to Him before the great trials,
you’ll have great clinging muscles before you even start a trial. And you might get
to a time where you feel like you can’t hold on anymore. But just as Lois Lane
was held by Superman, even if she wasn’t holding on, Jesus is able to hold onto
you. Ask Him. “Lord please hold onto me, because I don’t know if I have the
strength to hold onto you.”