Who would have thought that there could come a time when God would let go of your hand?

Think about it!  Sure…there are plenty of times when YOU let go of God’s hand.  But how many times has God let go of YOUR hand?

Let me refresh your memory.

What about that time when you had just experienced a triumphant moment of receiving accolades from your employer, classmates or family and friends.  Or shortly thereafter, you were guest of honor at a scrumptious birthday dinner.  Or better than anything else, you discovered that you were the heir of a large inheritance from a deceased wealthy relative.  Oh, how the praises went up as those blessings came down!  Or just maybe, it happened just when you were going through a debilitating sickness!  WOW! That hurts…

Then it happened…CRASH BAM…THANK YOU MAMAM!  For shortly after that, the Lord left you!  He actually took His presence away and let go of your hand!

God’s M.O.

God operates like that sometimes.  Scripture tells us that God did just that to King Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 32:31.

“And so, in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to try him and to know all that was in his heart.”

Now the Chronicler who wrote 1st and 2^nd Chronicles does not give us the full narrative of exactly how King Hezekiah reacted (or what was in his heart concerning this matter), you have to read Isaiah Chapter 38 to get a fuller picture.  There you will discover that the Prophet Isaiah had just warned the king that God had numbered his days and that Hezekiah was about to die.  Hezekiah’s response was to turn his face to the wall and pray.  He reminded God of how faithful he had been in carrying out God’s commands and re-establishing kingdom worship and righteously serving God’s people.  God relented after hearing King Hezekiah’s prayer and healed him.

Hezekiah express his gratitude for his promised healing by requesting a divine sign from heaven sealing the promise that God would do what he said he would do.  So, God responded by causing the sun to miraculously stand still for a number of hours.  After all of this happened, however, an envoy of Babylonian princes came to visit King Hezekiah to learn more about the sun miracle and to congratulate him on his healing.  So, during all this time, “God had left him (Hezekiah) to himself, in order to try him and to know all that was in his heart.”

Lessons learned…

For me, I have learned when I am faced with the most serious adversities in life and feel as though the Lord has truly abandoned me, I find myself unable to pray earnestly to Him.  I begin to operate in my own strength until I cannot go any further.  Sometimes reluctantly, or in shame, I call on the Lord to rescue me.  In retrospect, I should be more like King Hezekiah and just turn my face to the wall and recall in my spirit all the times God has brought me out of trouble.  But unlike the king, my list of services might not be as long and as worthy as his. My flesh causes me to erroneously think that God operates on merit and not by his Spirit.

What about you?  Do you always remember the goodness of the Lord when you are faced with dilemmas in life?  Can you recite a list of godly services you have performed for the sake of others.  Do you remember how gracious and merciful our Lord is.  Do you remember that it is not by power or by might, but by My spirit says the Lord?  Do you believe that some adversities, bad news and illnesses can be in fact beneficial?  Not only for kings and people in high places, but for me and you.

My prayer for you…

“My Precious Lord Jesus, We definitely realize now that sometimes you leave us, yes, you actually let go our hands, so that You can examine our hearts.  Therefore, we thank You for the trials and difficulties that cause us to draw closer and nearer to You.  We praise you for not entirely forsaking us. This sincere prayer is offered in the matchless Name of Jesus.” Amen

Remember, Easter Sunday is within a few days, so why not concentrate on the last 7 words (phrases) of Christ. You might also see within these scriptures that God actually let go of his Son’s hand for a little while. Be blessed!

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43b
“Women, here is your son.” John 19:26b

“Here is your mother.” John 19:27

“I am thirsty.” John 19:28b
“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (Which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  Luke 23:46b

Scripture Lesson: “We who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body.” 2 Corinthians 4:11

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