Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand

/ Gail Johnson / 3 Comments

For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee (Isaiah 41:13 KJV).

I’m late. I should have posted yesterday, but I was struggling. Although I had the hymn and the idea, I couldn’t go with the usual post. And then it all came together last night. 😊

I wasn’t supposed to focus on the hymn’s history or the author’s life. I was to highlight the truth contained in the author’s words and encourage the reader. So if you are struggling with a problem and you feel you’re at the end of your rope, this one’s for you.

The Song

Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand

Life is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand!

For I am the LORD, I change not (Malachi 3:6a).

Trust in Him who will not leave you,
Whatsoever, years may bring,
If by earthly friends forsaken,
Still more closely to him cling!

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5b).

Covet not this world’s vain riches,
That so rapidly decay,
Seek to gain the heav’nly treasures,
They will never pass away!

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-22).

When your journey is completed,
If to God you have been true,
Fair and bright the home in glory,
Your enraptured soul will view!

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:2).

(Chorus) Hold to God’s unchanging hand!
Hold to God’s unchanging hand!
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand!

Truth: Whatever situation we are in, God is a steadfast hold we can cling to in our hour of need. He will deliver us.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD (Psalm 27:13-14).

Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand | Jennie Wilson | Public Domain

Video

Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand by the Chicago Mass Choir

*Some words are different than the hymn.

He is Risen

/ Gail Johnson / 12 Comments

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know you seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you (Matthew 28:4-7 KJV).

Mercy

/ Gail Johnson

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him (Psalm 103:11 KJV).

I’m not sure why this verse reminds me of spring. Maybe because the words remind me of another verse on mercy.

It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV).

Jeremiah prophesied of the Babylonian invasion. He was persecuted for sharing the word of the Lord. If you know the story, you know the siege was horrific. People starved. Others ate their own children. The invading army slaughtered the king’s children and then removed his eyes. The death of his children was the last visual he had. And the sad part of it all was that it could have been avoided if only they’d listened and obeyed.

As he wept, Jeremiah recalled the prophecies of renewal, restoration, and revival. It is important to remember the blessings while sitting amid the trials. Lamentations 3 tells us His mercy is new every morning.

Morning is a new day. Spring is like the morning. It’s a new start. A season of renewal. A season of hope. We must remember that we are not hopeless because we have a Hope. His name is Jesus. And no matter how dark the night may seem, morning is coming. And with the morning comes renewal.

But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble (Psalm 59:16 KJV).

O, how great is His mercy! I am looking for that eternal morning. How about you?