Good new year, everyone.
As I considered this month’s writing prompt, I was reminded of a book I read last year, A Curious Faith by Lore Ferguson Wilbert. An entire chapter is devoted to the question, “What is in your hand?” Lore offers a different and thought-provoking perspective: “When God asks what is in Moses’s hand, the staff in his hand is there because so many things have gone wrong in Moses’s life.” Lore suggests that when God asks you what’s in your hand, he is asking, “What did you not expect to carry into this ‘wild and precious life’?”
A close friend shared this with me: “I don’t always like what is in my hand, and often look at what is in someone else’s hand and wonder why I didn’t get that. But I know God gave me what is in my hand and know he must have a purpose and use for it. I believe that God has given you the issues you are dealing with now, because he knew you could handle the job. And that you would handle the job with Christian love and grace and would be a witness to those around you. One day God will say to you ‘thanks for taking care of that, I knew you were the right person for the job’.
What is ‘in my hand’ is a story I never wanted and never sought out. It is a story involving prodigal children and a challenging caregiving journey. The stage of life I am in looks nothing like what I expected or hoped for. But God has shown me my faith is built on the solid rock of Christ. I may be tested and tried, my “trunk” may be bent against hurricane-force winds, but I will stand in him. He is faithful, he is good, he is kind, he is the one true Promise-keeper.
I trust that God will use what’s in my hand to bless others, whether that is in my writing or in conversations and offering support. As Lore says, “he uses our grief to make space for another’s grief. When our grief is palpable and present, mourners find their way alongside it sooner or later.”
Moses used his sheep-herding staff to astound a pharaoh, split the Red Sea, bring water from rock, and help the Israelites win a battle against enemy forces. God didn’t waste Moses’s flock-tending years; he redeems the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25). Since he doesn’t waste anything and turns for good what the enemy means for evil (Genesis 50;20), I can hardly wait to see what he does with what’s in my hand! May it be soon, Lord Jesus!
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c. Susan Barclay, 2025. For more about Susan and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com
I do want God to use what is in my hand to bless others. In my own story involving prodigal children and eldercare, I struggle to act in Christian love and grace. I have to continually surrender and repent. But when my "self" gets out of the way, God is able to use me in surprising ways.
ReplyDeletethank you for this insightful post, Susan. You said it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this personal and in depth post, Susan. You express clearly that what God puts in our hand to use for His glory can often be something difficult and painful. We tend to think it needs to be a positive gift or talent, but God uses the hard things we hold too, as long as we give them to Him to do what only He can do. May God use the struggles you experience to "redeem the years the locusts have eaten" and bless others through you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan, for sharing your heart with this post. I love the truth you've expressed that we do not always chose nor like what is in our hand, but God uses our openness for his purposes and glory. May God bless you always.
ReplyDeleteYou've said it so beautifully, Susan. Thank you for this wonderful post about using what's in our hand and the Lord taking and making it into something useful and good.
ReplyDeleteTwo thoughts pop out for me today:
"One day God will say to you ‘thanks for taking care of that, I knew you were the right person for the job’."
"As Lore says, “he uses our grief to make space for another’s grief. When our grief is palpable and present, mourners find their way alongside it sooner or later.” "
Thanks for sharing how God uses what's in our hand in both expected and difficult ways. He uses it all to His honour and glory,
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post, Susan, insightful, honest and powerful. I particularly loved this section - “ The stage of life I am in looks nothing like what I expected or hoped for. But God has shown me my faith is built on the solid rock of Christ. I may be tested and tried, my “trunk” may be bent against hurricane-force winds, but I will stand in him. He is faithful, he is good, he is kind, he is the one true Promise-keeper.” Thank you and God bless.
ReplyDeleteThis is a precious message, Susan. This line moved me, "One day God will say to you ‘thanks for taking care of that, I knew you were the right person for the job’." A little more than three years ago the Lord put a particular message in my hand. I have mentioned this message in our blog before. In my hand is a call to give a voice to grandparents who grieve over grandchildren. I pray to God I am indeed the right person for this job. Thank you so much, Susan.
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