A Father's Embrace

I so very much enjoy my time with "the girls" during our Bible study time. Each week I leave our gathering uplifted and restored. We share our sorrows and our joys; we share time together in the Word. And often times, I leave with at least one new perspective on things in life. The time we spend together has blessed me many times over.

nearly two weeks ago, our lesson was in depth with a review of thirty passages that reassured us of God's promises to us. One particular verse spoke to my heart with its visual imagery. Isaiah 41:13 states,"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." This passage brought some very powerful images to my mind.

It brought visions of a father and a child, the father holding the little girl's hand. and as the two stood together, her Father offered words of encouragement and reassurance. This is how I often view myself with God.

There are a lot of times that I need to be reassured. There are a lot of fears that I need my Father to calm. There are a lot of days when I just need to hold His hand and feel His presence. and if I will just let Him, he would help me.

To me, this is such a powerful image of my relationship with my heavenly Father. It is a comforting view, and I feel that this is the relationship God wants with me. He wants to be there to support me and encourage me. And, even be there to hold my hand if necessary.

This passage also brings images of a dad and his child to my mind. You know, there's nothing more reassuring for a frightened child than the embrace of his/her father. So it too can be with our heavenly Father. He longs for us to turn to Him. he wants to reassure us. he will hold us in His arms if only we will turn and run to Him. He desires that relationship with all of His children.

Recently I have fallen in love with a praise song entitled "Forever Reign". Many parts of the song are especially meaningful to me, but the chorus brings to my mind the images of the Father and His child.

"Forever Reign"
You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
you are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hop, You are hope
you have covered all my sin

You are peace, you are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, you are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
you're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life
In You death has lost its sting

Dear Lord
I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares
To Your embrace
Light of the world
Forever reign

You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, you are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

Dear Lord
I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
nothing compares
To Your embrace
Light of the world
Forever reign

I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will never be enough
Nothing compares
To Your embrace
Light of the world
Forever reign

My heart will sing
No other name
Jesus, Jesus
My heart will sing
No other name
Jesus, Jesus

My heart will sing
No other name
Jesus, Jesus
My heart will sing
No other name
Jesus, Jesus

Dear Lord
I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will never be enough
Nothing compares
To Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares
To Your embrace
Light of the world
Forever reign

My heart will sing
No other name
Jesus, Jesus
My heart will sing
No other name
Jesus, Jesus

In those times that I am scared and need reassurance, I do have somewhere to turn...to my Father. Can you see the same picture that I did? When the world is crumbling around me, when I am totally overjoyed,...whenever...I can run to His arms. just as a father scoops up his child and embraces him or her in his arms, so too can our heavenly Father hold us.

He hurts when we hurt; He is happy when we are happy. he feels our disappointments and our sorrows. He rejoices in our successes. And, His arms are waiting to catch me as I run into His embrace. There is no other place like in the arms of my Lord that I would rather be. Like a dad's hug can comfort his child, God's embrace is waiting for you. All you have to do is run to Him.