Lila is two and our youngest grandchild. She is absolutely adorable! She has piercing blue eyes and the cutest little grin. While at our home recently, with her arms held high and looking up at me with those gorgeous blue eyes, she said, “I hold you, I hold you” Oh, my it was precious; how could I resist? Absolutely, she could “hold me”! I knew what she really meant was, “Mimi, will you hold me?” I picked her up, cuddled her, and she held me; it was a sweet moment!
There have been times in my life, especially over the past few years, when I’ve gone to my heavenly Father with arms held high, my eyes piercing into His and cried out, “Father, I hold you, I hold you.” My gracious heavenly Father knew, just as every parent knows, that what I meant was, “Father, will you hold me? I need You to hold me. I need the warmth and security of your embrace and your love.”
A hug, or being held tightly brings security, a sense of safety, and a deep peace that everything, no matter what is wrong, is going to be okay. I am a hugger. I love hugs. Mark seemed to understand that from the very beginning of our relationship. When I was sad, scared, and lonely, or just feeling a little down, he would stand and hold me as long as I needed him to hold me. I found security, warmth, compassion, and strength in his embrace.
One of my greatest losses with his physical condition is that he can no longer hold me. When I am sad, lonely or weary, and I cry out, “I hold you, I hold you.” he can no longer hold me. He cannot embrace without losing his balance or shaking. I know he misses holding me as much as I miss his holding me.
At times, when the pain and grief of longing to be held is threatening to overtake me, I run to my sweet Jesus and cry out, “I hold you, I hold you.” Oh, how precious when I look up into His eyes and see His arms extended toward me. He gently picks me up and cuddles me in His arms, as I hold on tightly to His embrace. At that moment, a deep sense of peace comes, warmth fills my heart once again and the pain subsides; being held in His embrace, I know that I am not alone.
I think of those in God’s word who must have at times needed a hug. Moses in leading the people of Israel had to have cried out, “I hold you, I hold you.” At times, how desperately he must have needed the embrace, love, warmth, security and peace of a hug from God. Praying year after year in the temple, Hannah must have cried out, “I hold you, I hold you,” as she laid her burden before the Lord. She knew that He was the only one who understood her pain and emptiness. Oh, how she needed her God to hold her!
If you are in a painful place and your heart is crying out, “I hold you, I hold you,” know that God hears; He sees and He is waiting with arms extended. Look up into his piercing eyes, grasp His hand and cuddle up with Him. In His embrace you will find a deep sense of peace, strength, security, and warmth that will fill your heart. Your pain will subside in His warm embrace and you will know that you are not alone.
Father, I thank you that You are always there for me; my Jehovah Shammah. How grateful I am that You hear me when I cry out, “I hold you, I hold you.” Lovingly you pick me up and cuddle me close to your breast, and I feel the depth of your love for me. Never will I be alone or without the warmth of your embrace. I long for your hugs!
“The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.” Psalm 145:14 NLT
“He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.” Psalm 72:12-14 NLT
“He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.” Isaiah 40:11
dianne