“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV)
Peter speaks of loving and believing in the God we cannot see, which results in the joy and salvation of our souls. In all other relationships, we use a physical sign of assurance, such as hand holding, which is a gesture of affection, protection, guidance, and comfort. It’s an expression of love and support between parents, children, lovers and friends, and it crosses all ethnic and cultural boundaries.
Jesus made it very clear that He loved little children, and told us if we want to get to heaven, we would have to become like one of them. A young child is totally reliant and trusting in their parents for all things. There is a spiritual place of childlike reliance, trust and humility, that Jesus invites us all to.
Trusting Him without seeing Him, can be difficult under pressure. Peter tells us that loving Him without seeing Him, brings inexpressible joy. As much as we all believe and desire this, problems come along, drag us down, and we forget that Jesus is with us, extending His hand to us. It requires a childlike reliance and trust to believe what we cannot see. We need to find that childlike heart within us.
I still remember a dream that I had at the age of five. The memory of this dream has stayed with me, and it still helps me find my childlike heart during the most challenging and stressful trials. I dreamed someone took hold of my right hand and walked me out of my burning school building. I was led peacefully through the halls, around corners and safely outside the door. When I looked up, Jesus was next to me, holding my right hand. It was a divine life lesson through a vivid and realistic dream.
Life resembles a burning school at times, when we walk through fiery trials, not knowing what’s around the next corner, but as we trust Jesus with childlike faith, He holds our hand and guides us to safety.
Our “school of life” is not to make us scholars, but saints. Jesus is the one holding our hand. He never promised to put out all the fires in our lives, but He knows where the all the fire exits are, and He will peacefully lead us out, if we keep our hand in His.
Lord, give us childlike hearts, trusting you in all our ways. As we keep our hand in yours, lead us and give us inexpressible joy and perfect peace. Amen
