“Fear not, for I am with you,
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 (RSV)
Some readers may remember last year I shared the story of a high school friend who moved to Israel decades ago. We grew up on the same block in the city of Chicago, but as a child, Larry was hit by a car and hospitalized with a brain injury.
After waking up from an eight week coma, he survived and was able to finish high school. He walks with a limp and has a weak right arm. It could be why he took a special interest in praying for my son when he heard about his accident.
In September 2022, Larry went on an African safari vacation. One rainy day, he slipped and fell, dislocating his shoulder. The local ER doctor in Africa attempted to realign his shoulder, but it left his left arm totally paralyzed. The sad part is that his right arm was already weak with a tremor, as a result of his childhood injury, but now he had two disabled arms.
Larry told me that today’s scripture verse, Isaiah 41:10 was what inspired him, when he was at his lowest point. He required daily assistance from a caregiver, but that scripture gave him hope, believing God was upholding him with His right hand. I was surprised to hear it because that has also been one of my favorite scripture verses as well. It’s comforting to imagine God or Jesus upholding us with His right arm.
After physical therapy for the past few years while living in Israel, Larry is recovering very well. He no longer needs a caregiver and is able to move that arm again. When I wrote about this last year, some of you told me you were praying for him, so I wanted to let you know that your prayers were answered.
There is a special grace in scripture which can draw us closer to God. I have experienced it in my own life, and was pleased to learn that Larry found strength in his Jewish faith through the same scripture. God’s word works His purpose in all people who seek Him.
The Lord motivates people, inspiring prayers on one another’s behalf. We should never underestimate the power of prayer, especially when we trust in the victorious right hand of Jesus.
Lord, we trust that your right hand is reaching out to uphold and strengthen every person in this meditation group, in whatever they are struggling with. Bring healing, purpose, power and prosperity to all of our lives. Amen
