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Help! Hang on to My Hand Please!Categories: Jabez (Prayer of Jabez)
We have asked to be blessed and to have our territory expanded. Do you believe just how BIG this territory has become? Wow! Now what do you do? It is so much bigger than you ever dreamed, and how are you supposed to deal with it all? It is rather scary at this point and you are thinking you are going to fall flat on your nose. So, now you realize you need help -- big time. There is no way you can do it all by yourself. Who are you going to call? Where is the help you need? Right Now! The third line of Jabez' prayer is "that Your hand would be with me."
"With" is a funny word to say, but oh, it is so important. When we are "with" God's hand, it means there is no separation. His hand is always right with us. It is constant, consistent, and right here, no matter if we are at home, at school, at camp, or in a boat or airplane. So we are never alone! Let us look at a few Bible verses showing the same thoughts as Jabez had about God. You see we are not alone!
'Ah Lord God! Behold, thou has made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:" (Jeremiah 32: 17)
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What we want and need now is that touch or sense of security, rightness, guidance, and confidence about what we are doing in our newly expanded territory. Sure, each of us has special talents and skills, and we know what, how, and when to use them. The challenge comes when the new task requires more skill, knowledge, and imagination, and it looks absolutely impossible to us. Are you sorry you asked for this opportunity? Be happy! This is just our "wake up" call. All we need is God's hand to guide and support us. We have to hang on so tightly that we cannot fail or look dumb, because we are not alone. We are right there with God. Now you understand, as Moses did when he had to go to Pharaoh, that God is your mouth, so you can say and do the right thing in the right way at the right time.
The word "hand" has a lot of meanings, such as protection, guidance, security, leadership, cuddling, power, assistance, help, and something to hang on to or hold. You remember when you were little that you had to take Mom or Dad's hand when crossing the street, going up and down stairs, walking through a crowded shopping mall. You probably do not remember learning to walk and often falling down. That is when Mom or Dad helped you by holding your hand. Just like that, God does the same thing with us, no matter how big or small we are right now. No, we cannot see His hand, just as we cannot see the wind, but we can certainly feel it and know that it is here. We hang on to God's hand by listening and obeying all the good and productive thoughts that we hear. 
Just think of all the different things you do with your hands: build sandcastles; steer your bicycle, take a bath, eat your food, play ball, sew, play a musical instrument, accept a gift. Oh, yes, we have to have our hands open to receive a gift (blessings), and we have to have our hands open to be able to hang on to our friend's hand. God's hand is His touch that gives us the knowledge and skills we need right now to be able to deal with all this growth and expansion.
We talk about touch in different ways, too. The artist's "touch" is shown by the way he blends colors and what size brush he uses. The interior decorator's "touch" is putting the right furniture in the right place. The pianist's "touch" quiets and soothes or excites with a driving rhythm. The mare licks her foal to tell him that all is well and to stay with her because she will keep him safe. A touching remark is a comment that makes you feel very special and appreciated. God's touch is the best!