Encouragement

Hands Off

by Brandon Braddy
02/20/24
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Psalm 46: 10 (Kjv)

   In the book of Psalm, chapter 46, verse 10, here lies for us a necessary, but hard statement to live out in our lives. We find these two words: Be still. They would sound and be easier to us if there were in this life the absence of suffering, but we know only the opposite is true. In one earlier verse, it said: though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Our surrounding circumstances make it tough sometimes to Be still. God encourages us to do so, and in other verses of the Bible, to not fear, not to panic, and in others we can find truths that inform us that we need not be depressed. But easier said than done. There are some people who suffer from anxiety disorders, others from depression, I believe God desires the best for humanity, and while He says fear not, He knows who He is speaking to. And when He says through His holy word, Be careful for nothing, or anxious, in other words, for nothing, He knows His audience, like His word says, He knows our frame, and He remembers that we are dust. He does expect things of us, but at the same time, He knows our frailties, as the word says so graciously and tenderly, He is ever touched by the feelings of our infirmities. We have not arrived yet to Heaven, and until then, we are going to face unbearable situations in this life. You or I can tell someone to rip out a part of them that makes them who they are that they struggle with, but God made them along with every fearfully and wonderfully made part. There are some like myself who has a learning disability and two other different types of disabilities, and has also suffered from deep depression. You cannot talk someone out of being what they are, God has created all of us with every broken part attached. But I just ask us all today, the word of the Lord is beckoning to us, though it is not always that easy, to find it in ourselves, by the power of Him working within us, to try and be still before Him, no matter what we are facing in this moment. That phrase be still in Hebrew form actually carries the meaning: to slacken, other words we can use are, to draw, to faint, to forsake, to leave, to let alone, or in other words, what I believe God is saying to us through those two words are: Hands off. Hands off of your situation, hands off of the weight of your past. No matter what you are going through, Let it alone and give it to me. Let me fight for you. Take it to me in prayer. Leave it there in my strong hands. You do not have to handle it on your own because you are not alone there in your struggles, or in your trials, or what situation you find yourself in. Give it to me. I believe that Mary, we refer to her as Mary Magdalene showed a great example of what worship to Jesus looks like. We can read of her example in the New Testament. It seems she had been possessed by real demons, but then things changed. Next thing we know she seems to appear in a certain house where Jesus is, she brings with her the only items she had, that she might pour out all her love upon the Father, the One who had rescued her, she owed Him everything. So do we. She takes the box of expensive perfume, and pours it all out upon the feet of Jesus, she takes her hair and wipes His feet, and she takes the tears that flow down from her eyes, and gives them all to Him, she did what she could, these words were then spoken by Jesus, testifying of the good work that she did for Him. She was showing how much she loved Him because He first loved her. And though she was in motion, she was busy serving Him by love, this could have possibly been her being still also. You can be still while still serving Jesus. Mary knew well her own past, Jesus did too, but all of that did not stop her from worshiping. When your situation seems to go in an adverse direction than how you think it should, or when everything around you seems to fall apart and crumble like dust, God has a plan, and though it is not easy, and He knows it is not always easy, He is saying to us during those times, Hands off, my child, because I have a plan always, and I am holding you all the while, though the earth be removed and everything around you seems to be crumbling, all those broken pieces falling to the ground, Be still, Hands off, know that I am God, and I am taking care of you. You are of more value to me than anything at all, Know that I have you in the palm of my right hand, I am not letting go of you ever. Trust me. Worship me, Give it all to me, And remember, Hands off!