On the Palms of My Hands

Isaiah 49:16
I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.

Have you ever been faced with trying to encourage a discouraged church member? I bet you have at sometime or the other. What have you used to help them push through hard times? Maybe you recommended a Stephen Minister (I hope you do), or perhaps you use your wisdom to reiterate that God is close by (good job), but consider the verse above.

If God loves us so much that He writes our name in His hands, then should we not trust He cares? When you think this way, it gives us something to hold on to when we need it the most. You have God to hold onto to reassure you of your true worth and value. You might have trials but God faithfully cares. God is tightly holding on to you!

Look at this through Jesus’ teaching, he reminds his disciples that they would do greater things than he had done (John 15). Imagine hearing these words: You have the ability to feed thousands, heal the sick, and even raise the dead. I imagine that it would be tempting for the disciples to say “I cannot do that” or “I might as well quit now!” Jesus offers some advice here for those who get frustrated by their own frailty or inadequacy: “I am the True Vine.” What does that mean?

Jesus is telling us that if we will stay connected to him, we will remain connected to God. Do not go down the path and create a branch that is unfruitful. Jesus is also saying that when it is pruning season, the ouch hurts, but you must remain strong and willing to stop holding on to what is keeping you from the right path; attached to the True Vine. If you are depressed it sometimes means you are holding on to something inside, afraid, or unwilling to move forward. It takes energy to suppress these emotions; it robs us of feeling alive. Do you have regrets? Are you living in the past? Are you storing resentment or bitterness towards another? Do you envy others and crave to be like them? These are all unproductive branches that should be pruned.

Ask Jesus to help prune you! Let him help you release frustrations and remove an unproductive branch. I believe you will feel the relief as I have, and yes, OUCH!

Karen Horton