Hand in Hand

One day I watched as my two oldest daughters played a game they had made up.  The game began as Madison blindfolded Caroline and took hold of her hand and led her around the room.  Evidently the object of the game was to find out two things.  One was to see how frightened Caroline could become, and the second was to find out just how much she trusted her sister.  The game started out with Madison walking very slowly, but after some time had passed she gradually increased her pace until she was almost sprinting.  Not long after Madison started running, Caroline became scared and immediately wanted the blindfold off. 
    This childhood game is similar to our lives.  We live life with a type of “blindfold” tightly wrapped around our eyes due to the simple fact that we can’t see the future.  This inability to see tomorrow can cause us to grope around in the darkness and to allow fear to overshadow faith.  And if the truth be told, we all would have to admit that at times we allow worry to completely overwhelm us.
      Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Actually verse six contains two direct commands for believers.  The original language would literally read this way, “Stop worrying and start praying.”  Paul makes it quite clear the believer should not worry, but expect answers to specific requests. 
    God’s message was not only for the 1st century believer, but was intended for us today.  We would do well to listen to Paul’s instructions in Philippians and stop worrying and start praying.  To do anything less would be to not only disobey God, but would also reveal our distrust in His love and power.  It’s true that life brings pain and suffering, and we will be continually tempted to be led by the hand of fear.  However, we have reason to rejoice along with Paul.  We have a God who has committed to keep our hearts and minds in restful peace if we are willing to place our hand in His. 
    The game my daughters were playing that day reminds me that life is uncertain.  It also reminds me that it doesn’t take much to frighten us, and we aren’t very quick to trust others with our lives.  To be sure, we know all too well that being blindfolded can easily bring real pain if we should stumble and fall.  Anxiety, worry, and stress will surely tempt us to doubt our decisions and fear for the future.  And it’s certainly true that our world today gives us many reasons to be afraid.  Nevertheless, God has given believers a promise that He will take us by the hand and never let us go.  I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want anyone else leading me.