The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "In God’s Hands" for Thursday, 2 February 2017 with Scripture Isaiah 49:8-16

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "In God’s Hands" for Thursday, 2 February 2017 with Scripture Isaiah 49:8 Here is what Adonai says:
“At the time when I choose, I will answer you;
on the day of salvation, I will help you.
I have preserved you, and I have appointed you
to be the covenant for a people,
to restore the land and distribute again
its ruined inheritances to their owners,
9 to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out!’
to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves!’
They will feed along the paths,
and all the high hills will be their pastures.
10 They will be neither hungry nor thirsty;
neither scorching wind nor sun will strike them;
for he who has mercy on them will lead them
and guide them to springs of water.
11 I will turn all my mountains into a road,
my highways will be raised up.
12 There they come, some from far away,
some from the north, some from the west,
and some from the land of Sinim.”
13 Sing, heaven! Rejoice, earth!
Break out in song, you mountains!
For Adonai is comforting his people,
having mercy on his own who have suffered.
14 “But Tziyon says, ‘Adonai has abandoned me,
Adonai has forgotten me.’
15 Can a woman forget her child at the breast,
not show pity on the child from her womb?
Even if these were to forget,
I would not forget you.
16 I have engraved you on the palms of my hands,
your walls are always before me.”
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With a strong hand and outstretched arm — God’s faithful love lasts forever![Psalm 136:12 (CEB)]
Several years ago, my thirteen-year-old daughter needed back surgery to straighten her spine. The diagnosis terrified us. The curve in her back was extensive, and the surgery would be long.
During the surgery, my husband and I prayed with family and friends. About four hours into it, a friend came by the waiting room and handed us a small statue of two hands holding a praying angel. The statue was engraved, “God is holding you in the palms of his hands.” I was immediately comforted. The image of God holding our daughter and us during the surgery was a powerful reminder that we are never alone in our fears and struggles. Our daughter made it through the surgery and is fine today. My little statue holds a prominent place in my living room and has remained for me an image of God’s comfort.
I have returned many times to the image of being held in the hands of God. Throughout their history, the people of God suffered; but Isaiah reminded them that no matter what they were going through, God was holding them. We also have struggles and pain as we journey through life. But God is not only with us; God holds us.
The Author: Patricia M. Daniels (Florida, USA)
Thought for the Day: God tenderly holds me every day.
Prayer: Holy God, remind us that you are always holding us in the palms of your hands. Amen.
Prayer focus: Surgeons

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