In God's Hands
By Whitney Hopler
“In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” – Job 12:10 NIV
I looked at the empty seat next to me on an airplane and wished my husband was sitting there as planned. Instead, he was hospitalized and unable to make the flight. Then another man showed up to sit beside me. "I'm so glad this seat was available at the last minute," he told me. "This was the only flight from Calgary to my home today, and I need to get home quickly." As we talked, I learned his vacation was also suddenly interrupted when a family member passed away. Both of us had turned to God for help in our respective crises. "It's hard," he admitted, "but it's all in God's hands." Amid our stress and uncertainty, God was with us, holding us with loving care. God had already answered numerous prayers in the situations we both faced. We had faith that God would continue to do so. Despite our scary circumstances, we agreed we could rest assured our lives were in God's hands.
The Bible declares in Job 12:10 (NIV) everyone's lives are in God's hands. Of course, since God is Spirit (John 4:24), he doesn't have physical hands. But, as the Good News Translation of Job 12:10 explains, "It is God who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone's life is in his power." We can be confident God is in control – even when our lives seem out of control. As the traditional spiritual song "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" describes, God cares well for every part of his creation. That assurance frees us to trust God in all situations, including those that don't make sense to us. Rather than wasting our time and energy worrying about what we can't control, we can pray about everything that concerns us, asking God to do what we can't do.
God has incredible power and sovereignty. He is the creator and sustainer of all life in the universe. In a world filled with uncertainty and chaos, it is reassuring to know our Heavenly Father securely holds our lives. Every beat of our hearts, and every breath we take, is a gift from God's gracious hands. Our existence is not a result of chance or randomness but a deliberate act of love and purpose. As believers, this truth should fill us with awe and gratitude. It reminds us that our lives have great significance because God, our Creator, made us with loving hands. As Psalm 139:13-14 NIV reveals:
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Our worth is not determined by the opinions of others or the standards of this world but by the One who holds our lives in his hands. We can trust that God will provide for our needs in all situations. When we do so, God will show us the path to move forward – even in a crisis we don't understand. As Proverbs 3:5-6 advises:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
We can find solace during challenging times by remembering the God who created us and guides and sustains us throughout our lifetimes. So, let's surrender our lives completely into the hands of our loving Father. Let us trust in God's wisdom and fulfill his purposes for us, knowing he holds every part of our lives in his loving care. May we find peace in the knowledge that our lives are secure in the hands of the Almighty God.
Heavenly Father, we come before you with humble hearts, recognizing your sovereignty and power. Thank you for the precious gift of life and for holding our lives in your hands. Help us to trust in your loving care – especially during times of stress and uncertainty – knowing that you are faithful to provide for all our needs. Grant us the wisdom to surrender our lives to your will, seeking your guidance and direction in all we do. May your hands guide, protect, and lead us into the abundant lives you have prepared for us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/csterken
Related Resource: Instead of Doing More This Summer, Maybe You Need to Do Less
If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Thursday, 27 July 2023.
SHARE
