For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ (Isaiah 41:13, N.K.J.V.)

The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place. (Deuteronomy 1:30-31, N.K.J.V.)

A lawyer landed a job at a law firm in New York city and moved his family to the metropolis. As a way of getting to know the city, he began taking his young son on long walks around town. The custom was for the boy to hold tightly to his father’s pinkie. But one day the little guy became very tired and was barely able to keep hold of the pinkie. He looked up at his father and said, “Daddy, I can’t hold on to you much longer. If you want us to keep walking together, you’re just going to have to take hold of my hand.”

Christianity means walking with the Lord, but sometimes we Christians get like that young son. The walking makes us so tired that we feel like we can’t hold on much longer. During such times each of us should take the little boy’s example and say, “Lord, if you want us to keep walking together, you’re just going to have to take hold of my whole hand.” That’s where the Isaiah 41:13 reference comes into play.

As for the Deuteronomy 1:30-31 reference, some of the fondest memories that I have are of carrying my two sons when they were little fellows. It was a nightly ritual that I would pick them up in my arms, carry them to their beds, kiss their foreheads, and make sure they were tucked in for the night. I can still remember each of those heavy heads flopped over onto my shoulder as I made my way through the house.

You see, those moments illustrate the times of our lives when we can’t even stand on our own feet anymore. I’m talking about days and nights when us holding onto God’s pinkie or even Him holding onto our hand isn’t enough. Those are the times when we need Him to just pick us up and carry us, as He carried the nation of Israel through the wilderness and into Canaan.

Perhaps you are in such a time right now. If you are, let me encourage you to allow God to carry you to where He wants you to go. Tell Him that you are too tired to hold onto His pinkie. Tell Him that Him holding onto your hand will only result in Him having to drag you along. Tell Him that you need to rest your tired head upon His strong shoulder. Remember, Christian, this is one of the greatest privileges of your salvation, the privilege of having God bear you up when you can no longer do it yourself. So never fail to claim this privilege anytime you need it, and know that your heavenly father will be more than happy to play that role for you. I know that I sure do wish that I could travel back in time and play it for my children once again.