INTO THE HAND OF THE LORD

INTO THE HAND OF THE LORD

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have words of eternal life.”

John 6:68 (NASB)

I stood in the ladies room at work, my eyes fixed on the small lizard who was frantically looking this way and that.  He would move a few steps in one direction and then a few steps in the opposite direction each time I moved nearer to him.

I felt badly for this tiny creature stuck in a strange place with a giant standing much too close for his little comfort level.  But I just couldn’t leave him there.  I bent down and cupped my hands in front of him.  There he was; a wall behind and a hand before him.  There was an opening on either side, which he could have darted to, but instead he ran straight into my hand.  I carried him very gently, ever so aware of his smallness, and set him outside near some plants.  I stood watching as he looked about and then scurried off into the desert.

This morning as I sat at the Well I was reminded of the little lizard as I read Peter’s reply to Jesus’ question.  You see Jesus had just made some statements that many “fair weather” disciples found uncomfortable and so they ran off looking for some other teacher who would tickle their endlessly itching ears.  Jesus turned to the twelve and asked them, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 

I sat quietly with the Lord as His question seemed to hang in the air.  One moment He and the twelve were riding the wave of popularity—everyone wanted to follow Jesus.  Now they stood alone with Him—everyone else had walked away.  His words painted a picture of God’s ways and purposes that were far beyond anything the disciples envisioned. I wondered if they felt a bit like that little lizard.  Did they suddenly feel very small and vulnerable before God in human flesh?  Did they consider darting away?  Jesus’ question gave them an opening to make a hasty departure.

Then came Peter’s response to His Lord.  “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”

I saw him then…Peter running straight into the hand of the Lord.  The twelve were right behind him. 

I sat quietly as the wind whistled about the house and I heard the trees rustling outside in the sweltering gale.  I thought about the daily and sometimes moment by moment choices I face to trust in the Lord or to dart off in my own understanding—to allow emotions to direct me instead of the sovereignty of God.  I thought about the coming weeks and changes that were coming and I suddenly felt so very small.   Behind me stood a wall of the unknown and then I saw it and I took off at a dead run straight into the hand of the Lord.  He scooped me up ever so gently as He is mindful of my smallness and He carried me.

Dear one, do you find yourself standing alone?  Have others run off in disbelief?  Many have their own idea of who they think God is and what He should do and how He should act.  He is supposed to hop to and do what they want when they want and the way they want and when He doesn’t they leave.  Jesus looks straight through to your heart as He asks, “You do not want to go away also, do you?”  What is your answer?  Will you trust Him or will you turn away?  Oh that you would echo Peter’s reply, “Lord, to whom shall I go?  You have the words of eternal life.”  Sweet friend, run with all your might straight into the hand of the Lord.

An Original Conversations at the Well
© Copyright by Diana Morgan, July 12, 2012