Just when I think there can't be anything more, the onslaught continues. I have been bumping and stumbling my way through this last surgery recovery for over four months now. There have been small incremental improvements, but there's still a long way to go.
With regard to some other things going on in our lives, it's been a waiting game. Hurry up and wait. Enter hurricane Irma and waiting on her arrival and scary passing through the night - wondering if my mom and family would be safe. More waiting and wondering. There was much physical damage to property, but lives were spared. Praise!!
Then, enter having to go for tests to rule in or rule out endometrial or uterine cancer. More scary tests followed by more waiting.
As I headed off to have the tests done I grabbed onto an index card that had two scriptures on it. While I waited anxiously for my name to be called at the radiologist, I read them over and over again. I repeated them slowly in my mind so that they might resonate with my weary and frightened soul at that moment.
I desperately needed something or someone to hold onto...
My heart was crying out, "Not this Lord...not now."
These are the scriptures I clung to that day and have continued to cling to:
I keep the Lord in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you." (Isaiah 41:13)
Two scriptures that talked about God taking hold of my right hand....holding me...comforting me....calming me...slowing my racing heart.
I began to wonder, what is it about the "right hand" that is so significant? In my research several interesting things came to mind about this "right hand" that brought me strength and comfort.
The right hand signifies strength. Most people are right-handed and that is the hand that normally has the greatest strength. (Even though my husband is a lefty and he is one of the strongest men of faith I know).
In the Bible the religious leaders were always trying to trap and trick Jesus with questions and so he once told them:
"The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.'" (Luke 20:42-42)
Being at the right hand, is the place of authority to whoever sits on the throne, and in this case, it was about God the Father and Jesus being the One who was to be and is currently seated at the right hand of the Father.
The right hand is the hand of AUTHORITY
The ancient patriarchs usually blessed their children and grandchildren with their right hand. When Jacob (then called Israel) blessed Ephraim, he stretched out his right hand to do it.
The right hand is the hand of BLESSING
In Revelation when John saw Jesus he "fell at his feet as though dead. But he (Jesus) laid his right hand on me, saying "Fear not, I am the first and the last" (Rev. 1:17) so by His right hand He strengthened him.
Isaiah provides further evidence of this by writing, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
The right hand is the hand of STRENGTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
When Aaron and his sons performed animal sacrifices, God instructed them "You shall kill the ram and take part of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tips of the right ears of his sons...." (Exodus 29:20)
When you were anointed with oil, it was done on the right side. When the side of Jesus was pierced on the cross, it was his right side that was pierced.
The right side is the side of SACRIFICIAL SIGNIFICANCE
In the book of Revelation we see Jesus using His right hand throughout like "in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals" (Rev 5:1), and having taken "the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne..." (Rev 5:7)
The right hand is the HAND OF SOVEREIGNTY
In the story of Jesus separating the sheep from the goats in the book of Matthew, we see that Jesus said, "Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right and the goats on the left." Being on the "right" side is critical to our eternal destiny.
The right side is the CHOICE SIDE IN JUDGMENT
So back to the question, Whose hand can I hold? I felt that day and I continue to know this week, that God is upholding me with His righteous right hand. When God extends His strong right hand of blessing and takes hold of my right hand of surrender and weakness, it is like we are shaking hands.
The shaking of hands is the first step before pulling one into an embrace. I envision Jesus saying to me, "Bev, we're in this together. I have hold of your right hand with my righteous right hand. You are mine and I will not let you be shaken. So do not fear and do not be dismayed for I am your God."
In times of trial, this is the hand that I know I can count on. What a blessing.
What about you? What are you facing that you need to grab hold of that right hand of authority, blessing, and strength? Do you believe that God will uphold you and He will not let you fall or be shaken? Ask Him right now for what you need....He's listening and will answer!
Be blessed.....and know that I am praying for you!
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