Holding to God's Hand: A Devotional for Believers

I Corinthians 10:12 (New Life Translation) So watch yourself! The person who thinks he can stand against sin had better watch that he does not fall into sin.

Tuesday afternoon, as my daughter and I were on our way to the campgrounds where her back-to-school retreat was being held, we stopped to grab some dinner. As we got out of the van, Lauren pointed out a mother walking down the sidewalk with a little girl that looked to be about 3 years old. "Mom, look how cute she is!"

As most toddlers do, she had a smile on her face, and was skipping, pulling at her mother's hand, wanting her to hurry up. In her free hand, she carried a stack of brightly colored squares of construction paper. "You have to hold my hand." The mother said "You can't run, because you'll fall down"

"But we have to hurry!" the little girl answered. I want to give my pictures to Daddy!" She gave a tug and her hand slipped free from her mom's. She took off, as fast as her short, chubby, baby legs would carry her. After about 4 strides, you guessed it, she fell. The toe of her sandal caught in the crack of the sidewalk and down she went. Her mother bent down and picked her up, brushing away the tears from her face, and the dirt from her knees. The scrapes were evident even from our vantage point. Her papers were strewn all over the sidewalk.

Lauren rushed to help pick them up, as the wind caught one and started to blow it into the street. The smile that my daughter was treated to when she handed back the colored bits of construction paper was bright enough to light up a large city. But it was her mother's words that caused me to stop and think this afternoon. She said "Sweetheart, I'm sorry you fell. This is why I told you not to run, because you would get hurt if you fell down. Now, can you hold Mommy's hand this time?"

Put yourself in this baby's shoes. God holds our hand, and guides us in everything that we do. But so many times, we want to rush ahead and do things our own way. We pull and tug until we slip from His grasp. And He can only watch sadly, as we stumble and fall. And each time, He sends friends to help us straighten up the mess we've made. Then he gently reaches down and picks us up, wiping away the tears from our eyes and the despair from our hearts. And he says. "My child, I'm sorry you fell. I tried to tell you not to go down that path. Will you please let me help you next time?"
And like that little girl, we promise to hold to His hand.

Are you holding His hand today? Or are you running off on your own, headed straight for a fall?