Holding the Leash

Bible Reading: Psalm 73:23-26

“Mom! Look at how well Raquel is walking!” said Danielle as she stepped onto her scooter.

“Yes, she is such a big girl now!” Mom said as she smiled down at Danielle’s one-year-old sister. Mom held Raquel’s little hand and was closely watching her baby steps. In Mom’s other hand was the leash of their big, gentle chocolate-colored Labrador retriever. They walked slowly down the sidewalk as Danielle zipped back and forth to them on her scooter.

Raquel reached out with her free hand toward the dog’s leash. “Look, Mom,” said Danielle. “Raquel wants to hold Hershey’s leash!”

Mom laughed. “Okay, baby. But there’s no way I would let you hold it by yourself.” Mom kept a tight grasp on the leash as she guided Raquel’s left hand onto the handle. Raquel’s right hand was still tightly held by her mother.

Raquel giggled and smiled. “That’s funny, Mom,” said Danielle. “She thinks she’s really walking that big old dog!”

“Yes,” Mom said. “She doesn’t know Hershey could easily knock her down. I’m the one who’s really controlling the dog because I’m strong enough to keep her from pulling Raquel. And I’m holding her other hand too, so even if she started to fall, I would catch her.”

After they finished their walk and Danielle had put her scooter back in the garage, Mom said, “You know, Danielle, that walk with Raquel and Hershey reminds me of us and God.”

“What do you mean?” asked Danielle.

“Well, many times in life, we’re faced with situations much bigger than we can handle—just like a twenty-pound baby can’t handle a ninety-pound dog. But God is more powerful than anything we may face, and He promises never to leave His children.” Mom sighed. “You know we are having some difficult times in our family right now.”

Danielle nodded silently.

“Now that your Dad isn’t here, things seem almost too much for us to handle, don’t they?”

Danielle nodded again, and Mom pulled her in for a hug.

“But just like I wouldn’t let Raquel hold Hershey’s leash on her own, Jesus won’t let us walk through these hard times alone. He is right here with us, holding us in His hand. We can trust Him, even when we don’t know how things will turn out.” -Karen McMillan

How About You?

Are you facing some difficult circumstances you don’t know how to deal with? Does life seem out of control? You can have confidence knowing that God is ALWAYS in control. Nothing is too big for him to handle. If you are His child—if you know Jesus as your Savior—He holds you firmly by the hand. You can trust Him to care for you.

Today’s Key Verse:
Psalm 73:23 Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand. (CSB).

Today’s Key Thought:

God is in control