Eternal Grip

John 10:27-29 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.”

We all long to feel secure. Security breeds trust. As babies when we cry and our needs are met, we learn to trust the one who is caring for us, we feel safe and secure in the arms of the one holding us. I remember the first time I took my son to the beach to play in the ocean waves. I held his hand tightly and taught him to jump as the waves broke on the shore. He laughed as the waves crashed around him, while I kept my death grip on his hand and watched intently at the oncoming waves. Nothing was going to snatch him from my hand. He was secure and he trusted that I wouldn’t let him go.

When I read this passage in John, I am reminded that God has a hold on me and in Him I am secure. I can trust Him because He has an eternal grip and nothing and no one can snatch me from it. How comforting it is to know that He is holding on and looking at the oncoming waves that life brings? There are times when He grabs a hold and lifts us up out of the waves so we don’t get battered. There are the times He allows the waves to hit us, all the while holding us tightly so not to let us get carried out to sea. We can trust Him to not let go. Nothing can snatch us from His hand.

Like a little child, there have been times when I was tempted to pull away from my Father’s hand, thinking I could stand on my own. In my limited view I tried to break free, thinking His grip was somehow holding me back. Despite my foolish efforts, God in His grace and mercy, never let go of me. His grip Is not to hold me back, but rather to allow me to freely jump through the waves of life, knowing that in everything I am secure in His care.

The Focal Point: When I look at the waves crashing on the shore I am reminded to hold on and jump in trusting the eternal grip of my Father‘s hand!