Random Journal Day: Safe in the Shepherd's Hand

Here we are back to another "Random Journal Day"... taking a walk back in time and peering into the thoughts from the past...and hopefully gleaning something positive from such a venture.  Some of my favorite blogging friends are doing the same thing....so perhaps you will take a peek at what they were thinking about years ago as well...

My trip back in time today goes to May 8, 2001. It was a Tuesday, according to my journal entry, and it was 11:17 a.m.  I always like to add the time and day to help me understand where my thinking was at the time.  Sometimes my thoughts were much clearer in the daytime than at night...but then again, not always necessarily so. I think the fact that this particular post was written in the middle of the day on a weekday means that I was still recuperating from an earlier surgery that year and had not yet gone back to work. That could explain some of my thoughts.  So here we go. Ready to get on the magic carpet ride back in time?

"My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.  NO ONE can take them out of My hand." John 10: 27-28 (Jesus speaking).

I really love today's devotional readings. (Note: I do not have the name of the devotional book written down) The title is, "Safe in Jesus' Hand".  The author, James McGinnis, says,

"Jesus is not a shepherd who leads from afar.  We're not following Him at a distance.  His hand is securely and lovingly holding on to our hand. What a sense of security this should give us! No matter how stormy or threatening the situation, Jesus is there holding us tightly in His hand."

"Thank you, Jesus, for walking with us, hand in hand, each day of our lives.  Keep us mindful of the bond we have and give us courage to follow wherever You lead, for You lead us to fullness of life."  Amen.

I went on to say:  These thoughts are very comforting to me today.

Psalm 28:7 ~ "The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him."

Psalm 27:14 ~ "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord."

We need to remember that whatever the circumstances in our lives~ "God is in control".  We can safely put our hand in His  hand.

In a later entry in the same journal, (six months later) I wrote the following:

"I just re-read the entries in this little book that I've written throughout this past year.  God was truly ministering to me during those days of convalescence from my surgery.  I see that I haven't written anything since going back to work in May! So much for goals and keeping up with writing! But I guess it has been all I could do over the past six months to keep up with house and home and work, let alone trying to write a book!  I really haven't had the physical energy--as well as the spiritual power--necessary to write all that was on my heart.  Looking back, I realize that I have been in a real emotional fog for most of this year.  I wish I could say that the fog has totally dissipated and I am walking fully in the sunlight at this time.  But I cannot honestly say that.  Each day seems to bring new challenges to my faith and mind.  There are days that I find myself wishing there was some means of "escape".  And yet, I know that is not what God would want for me.  I know I must persevere and remain faithful to His calling on my life.  To quit now would show a lack of trust and faith.

Lord, You know I believe, but help my unbelief.  I am only human, after all.  There are days that I fear that I will either lose my mind or my life~but then I remember that God is able to sustain me throughout all of my life~in all circumstances.  I need not fear what man may do to me~I am safe in the arms of Jesus.  He continues to carry me and protect me.  Praise God!! Jesus never fails!"

 Thankfully I did not lose my mind or my life...and God HAS sustained me through even harder days than those in the subsequent years.  He still continues to carry and protect me, much like that Good Shepherd...tightly holding on to my hand.  And I can still testify to His holding power...I AM safe in His arms. Praise God!! Truly, Jesus NEVER fails!  I hope that you have found this to be true in your life as well. If you are not sure of where you stand in Christ, take a moment to ask Him.  He will hear you...and He will give you the peace you are seeking. And that is a peace that lasts a lifetime, no matter what the circumstances. Try it and see for yourself! What do you have to lose?

Even Jesus had difficult days...in this picture, which is one of the several beautiful stained glass
windows in the church where I presently work, Jesus is praying to His Father, God Almighty, while in the
Garden of Gethsemane.  This was the night before His crucifixion. He had gone into
the garden to pray because He knew what was about to take place. And this is the prayer He prayed,
"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42)
When He finished His prayer and came out of the garden, Judas Iscariot betrayed Him with a kiss, 
and the rest is history. 
 He died for our transgressions. 
But the best part of the story is, three days later
He arose from the dead...and conquered death forever!
That is why I have hope and peace.
"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!" (song, Bill Gaither)
I hope you have this same hope.