To stand at the threshold of a new year is like standing at the crossroads staring into the darkness ahead with no road signs or maps. Daily the world news paints for us a picture of devastation caused by natural disasters like floods and earthquakes, and on top of that, stories of man’s inhumanity to man.
I am reminded of the words of Minnie Haskins, made famous by King George VI, when he quoted them in his Christmas Eve address to the nation as the world was teetering on the brink of World War Two:
I said to the man at the gate of the year,
“Give me a light that I might walk safely into the unknown.”
And he said to me, “Walk into the darkness
And put your hand into the hand of God,
And it shall be to you safer than the light
And better than the known way.”
We cannot do better than to step into the unknown with our hand in the hand of the One who created and sustains all things. The same God has a plan and purpose for our lives and knows what is best for us and He will not lead us astray. Elvera Denning’s song expresses that confidence in God’s leading:
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness,
All I have to do is to follow,
Strength for today is mine all the way
And all that I need for tomorrow.
And all that I need for tomorrow.
For God to be free to lead our lives in the path that He has planned, requires that we relinquish all control to Him, confident that wherever or however He leads is the best for us as well as for His glory. It requires total trust in the One who holds our hand. Jesus promised never to release His hold on us.
He said of those who follow Him, “”They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand, ---No man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand" (John 10:28-29 nkjv). That’s like a safety lock, doubly ensured. What greater security could we have than that as we step out into the unknown days ahead. “If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
Martha Toews Anderson
Martha, these words are such a challenge, yet so true: "we relinquish all control to Him, confident that wherever or however He leads is the best for us as well as for His glory." Thanks for your encouragement.
ReplyDeleteMartha, thanks so much for this encouragement to walk out into the darkness and put our hand into the hand of God. There is no better way. This is so true and timely for me as I am faced with a couple big decisions right now!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I will print out that little poem and keep it up where I can see it as a reminder.
Pamela Mytroen