The unclenched fist

Read Psalm 88:9

   My eyes are blinded by my tears.
Each day I beg for your help,O LORD;
   I lift my hands to you for mercy. (NLT)

The image of God stretching out his hand to us and our lifting our hands to him is a common one in Scripture. When we extend our hands to God it can be in praise but very often it is an expression of our need of his help. This is the case in the text today: the Psalmist needs God’s help. He so often does! A reminder to us that it is no shame to admit our weakness and no strange thing that we should experience trouble.

The image of the outstretched human hand suggests that God is able to fill that hand. With wisdom,power or love or whatever is needed at the time. For that to happen,our hands need to be open and empty. And they can’t be open and empty if we are clinging to certain things.

We need to release what we are holding on to so tightly. A relationship,some possessions,a long-held dream,a job or a ministry. Not that these are necessarily wrong. Not that God is going to necessarily take them away. Rather,we approach God in an attitude of surrender,asking him to order and direct our life. We don’t simply try to fit him in where convenient.

Clinging to what we value might mean missing out on something more valuable. The good things of God come to those whose hands are open and empty,not to those whose fists are clenched.

Blessings
David Reay