Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

I was sitting in church as Greggy was in a conversation off to my right. I twisted just enough to view them and that was all it took — I cranked my back. As the day became evening, I knew trouble was brewing, having injured my back previously. Things now revolve around my pain level, and I must ask for help from others as I’ve been forced to let it be.

Many have a burden of pain every day. Mine you can physically see as I walk robotically. Others carry an emotional hurt, a sorrow, a longing, a regret or unlike my temporary situation, an ongoing physical limitation: chronic pain.

“Everything will be alright. Your whole world’s in his hands. In the darkness and the trials he’s faithful and he’s true. Your whole world’s in his hands.” — “Be Alright” by Danny Gokey

At the age of 29 in 2009 Gokey had the climax of his life by placing third place in the American Idol contest and his most devastating life moment when his young wife died unexpectedly during a routine heart surgery. He has lived these lyrics.

From the time many of us were little we’ve known similar lyrics to his:

“He’s got everybody here, in his hands. He’s got everybody there, in his hands. He’s got everybody everywhere, in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands.” — 1927 African American spiritual “He’s got the whole world in his hands”

We are promised in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Jesus is not some magical wand-waving being. He is the I am!

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” — Exodus 3:14a ESV

I challenge you, my dear reading friends, to hand over all your burdens, worries, sorrows, sadness, regrets and pain to him. He cares for you and me, and our pain doesn’t go unseen.

“We aren’t meant to bear our burdens alone.” — Ruth Chou Simmons.

May you find and embrace the truth of Christmas this season. We do have the promise of his faithfulness. He’s got the whole world in his hands.

Robin (Beckman) Gudal is intentional in life, a wife, momma, nana, friend and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.