Are Our Hands Full?

This week our hearts were called to notice what has been there all along: God’s outstretched hand. What a beautiful picture of the heart of God. What a reminder of the choice we have to make.

An outstretched hand seeks a connection. It invites a response. A hand reaching for us has been emptied of all else. Only a hand that has also been emptied can reach out and clasp it.

If the God of the universe continually reaches out His hand toward us, why do we not always respond? Often it’s because our hands are already full.

We never have empty hands.

Not for long, anyway. Our hearts were made to cling to something.

When we are guilty, as Adam was, God’s hand reaches out in grace. We can cling to our sin or we can take the hand of forgiveness reaching out to us. We cannot do both.

In our rejection, the Father’s hand extends in love and belonging. To take His hand, we must empty our own of bitterness, of fear.

In our failures, God reaches out in restoration. If we cling to condemnation or pride, we won’t be free to accept it.

Many would rather hold to what is familiar than what is best.

God’s hands are reaching for us, but we would do well to examine our own. Is God offering something that we don’t currently have the capacity to receive? If our hands are holding to anything this world or human ability can offer, we have sold ourselves far short. To take God’s outstretched hand, everything else must be laid aside. He can be the only option. And only then do we find that He is enough.