I will take hold of your hand

By November 28, 2017Stories

“Last week was a very impactful week for me. Our speaker, Steve Klassen, spoke to us about listening to God’s voice and finding it in the still small whispers of life. The focal point of the week was a Day of Silence, something we knew would be quite the challenge for our chatty, social group.

I hate to admit it, but I was really skeptical. A full day for listening to God? Would God really speak? If I heard something, would it just be me trying to compensate and make myself feel more “religious”? Regardless of my doubts, the day arrived, and it began for me down at the docks. I sat in quiet, listening to the gentle sound of the rain falling on the lake. Very quickly I became aware of how scared I was of trying to recognize God’s soft voice amid the clamour of my own mind. I asked God to make whatever he wanted to say as loud as possible, like a fog horn in my ear. I asked God to guide the upcoming year as I don’t really know what the next chapter of my life holds. I specifically asked him to “hold my hand and guide me.”

Back inside, I opened my Bible to the back section on “Verses for when I am seeking God’s guidance.” I read Isaiah 42:5-9:

“This is what God the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand…”

As soon as I read “I will take hold of your hand,” everything really stopped.

For me it was obviously a message from God, having prayed on the dock for him to hold my hand, then reading it in Isaiah, but God was not done there.

In the preparation for this Day of Silence, Steve had made it clear that we wouldn’t be communicating with each other, verbally or otherwise. This was a day to let go of any attempts to connect with each other and open up to God. What happened next surprised and spoke to me as two people at different times randomly took hold of my hand! These acts were reminders of God’s promise to me throughout the day. God does still speak, and he does answer our prayers, taking our hands and guiding us through the twists and turns of life.

Although I am still not sure what next year holds for my life, I will walk forward in faith, not knowing where I am going but knowing the One who is holding my hand the entire way. God has an amazing plan for each of us, full of life and joy. We only need to accept his invitation to take our hand, and follow.

~ Maddie Neufeld, Outtatown Discipleship School participant

Leave a Reply