He's Holding Me

Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday

The word is “embrace”

At first glance I thought, 

     “No, not this week, can’t relate”. 

And then it all happened. So many facets in one word.  Like a diamond, every time I turned it, it shone differently.

//He’s Holding Me

We drove around the Bible School campus, my alma mater. Due to circumstances relocation took place 30 years ago. The property is now used for other purposes, but most of the buildings standing are in dyer need of repair. The deterioration speaks loudly of the lack of purpose and motivation of those who occupy it now. Like flash floods, memories surfaced and overflowed from me and swept me into a time warp when and where my life in Christ was just beginning to embrace every part of me.

As I think of those buildings, what they were then and what they are now, I see what I have also let go of and what I have embraced.

These things I consider:

What are the neglected places I have let go of, and what have I held on to too long? Either one can have negative outcomes. What have I avoided to care for that is now in plain sight? What have I held to that has been retarding my growth?

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven ... A  time to embrace and a time to shun embracing”. Eccl 3:1, 5b.//

I think hindsight sometimes gives us the greatest insight into our hearts condition. What is dead and unproductive? Perhaps a belief, a concept, a tradition, a habit, or even a relationship needs to be evaluated.  Where has apathy crept in and left its mark? I may think I can hide it, but usually the one who chooses not to see it is me.

Psalm 139 tells of God’s thoughts of His people. Having all knowledge of every part of me, He purposes to embrace me. “You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me”. Ps 139:5.

In His embrace He wishes to share His breath with me, but will not suffocate me. He allows me to breathe freely.

His embrace is protection from the elements, a shelter from the storm in the midst of the storm.

His embrace stabilizes me so I don’t have to be tossed to and fro.

His embrace is where I am close enough to hear Him whisper even in chaos and calamity.

It is because of His embrace that I know I have roots that are deep and whatever befalls me I will never be outside of His hold.

Maybe broken structures and crumbling foundations are what we need to look upon once in a while so we can wake up and remember.