Capable Hands

By Jennifer E. Jones
Guest Writer

CBN.com – These days, I’m finding it hard to speak. Talking isn’t necessarily the problem so much as saying the right words.

Tragedy surrounds us. You don’t have to look far to find someone deep in emotional pain. Whether it’s the sheer madness of a school shooting or something as common as a relationship breakup, situations continue to present themselves and leave us wondering, ”What do I say?”

When it comes to handling grief (be it my own or someone else’s), I tend to lean towards the male approach rather than the female. I’m a fixer. If you come to me with a problem, I assume you want me to fix it or give advice. I’d rather be part of the solution than be a shoulder to cry on.

A big flaw in this logic is that I continually encounter problems that I can’t fix. I can’t turn back time. I can’t make him be “the one” for my friend. I can’t explain how the will of God would allow a child to die before his time. As much as I try, I am not in the miracle-making business.

I can do one thing. I can pray, and in the end, that’s all any of us can do. I know that people think it’s a cop-out to respond to someone’s pain with, “I’ll pray for you.” However, prayer is powerful even if we don’t know what to say. Why? Because when we pray, we take the mysteries of this life to the only person who understands them.

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." (Psalm 55:22 NIV )

Take your burdens, including the ones you carry for others, and leave them in His hands. As Christians, we know this. However, it certainly is easier said than done.

One morning I was feeling down about a friend's complex situation. I prayed but continued to worry about her. Then the Lord told me, “Give it to me. Put it in my hands. I assure you I am more than capable of handling it.”

God’s hands. They created humanity. They hold the whole world. Upon them are scars that forever remind Him of how much He loves us. What better place to leave our troubles?

Even when you serve the Lord faithfully, life can be confusing. I think I spend the better part of my day with more questions than I have answers. However, I urge you in these dark days to start and end everything with a heart turned towards God, our guide. His way may not look like the path you would have chosen, but trust Him to lead you to an expected end.

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