We’re continuing our conversation with Patty. Previously, she shared how God sometimes allows us to be blind for a time. If you haven’t read the post, you can read it here and you can read Patty’s bio here.
In this post, I asked her to share one piece of advice she would give her past self. I asked her to think back 20 years ago. Back when her daughter was 13 months old. Still in the hospital, fighting E. Coli. Back to when she was just living one minute, one test, one doctor’s update at a time.
What advice would she give to the her who was jostling caring for one daughter in the hospital and one at home? The one who had no idea what challenges lay ahead of her.
God’s got His hand on you
This is what she said: “To realize that no matter what happens [in our lives], the struggles we face, the stress, the highs, and lows [sic]. And no matter how we feel, God has got his hand on you [sic].”
Given everything Patty has gone through, this advice is very fitting.
I like the fact she mentions both the highs and the lows. Because how often do we intentionally look for God’s hands in the highs? More often than not, we tend to wonder where His hands are in the lows.
It made me wonder. What if we train ourselves to recognize His hands during the highs? Will we be able to see it more readily during the lows? Maybe…
In any case, circumstances don’t matter. Because regardless of what’s happening in our lives, from our mountain tops to the deepest darkest valleys, God’s still got His hands on us. His hold on us doesn’t lessen or diminish with circumstance. He is the same as He’s always been. He’s constant and unchanging (Hebrews 13:8)
No matter what life throws our way or even how we feel. God will always have His hands on us.
It’s an important truth to remember. Especially, during times of uncertainty when our emotions are akin to a roller coaster ride. We can go from moments of elation to frustration, anger or dejection in a matter of minutes. It’s good to know regardless of where we are on our emotional roller coaster, God’s still got His hands on us.
Sometimes you need to shatter an oven door
The reality of the matter is, there are going to be times in our journey when we get emotionally, mentally and physically burned out. The stress of riding the emotional roller coaster day after day, month after month, year after year gets taxing. During these times, it’s important to remember God’s got Hands on us.
Patty shared the time she was so sick of riding the emotional roller coaster that she took her frustration out on the oven door accidentally.
To release the pent-up emotions streaming through her body, she grabbed a spoon and hurled it across her kitchen. Unfortunately, it made contact with the oven door. Smashing the glass into pieces. A visual reminder of her shattered heart.
But even in the midst of her brokenness, among all the shattered pieces of glass laying on her kitchen floor. Patty felt God’s hand on her.
The truth remains
Let this truth sink in and bring comfort. No matter what you’re going through. Be it seasons of blindness. Or times of uncertainty and chaos. Even in moments of pure joy. Regardless of triumph or defeat. No matter what happens. Or how many oven doors you may shatter.
Rest in the knowledge God’s got His hands on you.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10