I look into her eyes open wide. She stares at me and I at her. I marvel at the wonder of His handiwork. Ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes, all knitted together by the Father’s hand.
We had prayed for months for this sweet baby. Each night the boys and I would cover her in prayer. We asked for her protection and safety in the womb while her mother underwent cancer treatments. A living answer to prayer, this little one grabs hold of my finger the way all babies do. And I think about the Father’s love.
It was His love that knitted this little blessing together. It was His love that cradled her close as her little fingers and toes grew. And it was His love that brought her through those many months of fear, questions, and uncertainty.
Like her fingers wrapped around mine, it’s His love that doesn’t let go.
When He answers prayer the way I want, I praise Him. Do I do the same when He says “no” or “wait”? When hard things happen in my life, will I still marvel at His love?
Or will I doubt and think that He has let go of me?
Scripture promises that nothing can tear us away from His love for us. God the Father loves us as much as He loves the Son. As much? Even though I fail Him, doubt Him, distrust Him, and question Him?
When I despair over the unexpected events in life and think that He has let go of me, maybe it’s that I’ve let go of Him. Like Peter on the water, I look down and away from Him. Focusing on my problems, searching for solutions, and trusting in myself, I sink in the waves. And I blame Him for letting go.
He never lets go. When I run away, He’s the Father waiting for my return. When I wander from Him, He’s the Shepherd who leaves the rest to rescue me. When I deny Him, He’s the Savior asking the Father for my forgiveness. When I stumble in the waves of fear, He’s there to pick me up.
When prayers aren’t answered the way I want, He’s there telling me to wait and watch. He reminds me that He’s writing a story to which only He knows the end. Pointing me to John’s vision of eternity, He promises that all of my prayers will one day be answered. All things will turn out for good.
I know He doesn’t have to answer prayer. Yet in the wonderful mystery of divine love, He chooses to use my prayers to carry out His will.
As I hold an answer to one of my most fervent prayers, she reminds me that God never lets go.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
Counting His love in community (#1684-1699)
that He never lets go of me
for all the times He’s gone and found me when I’ve wandered
for all the times He’s waited for my return when I’ve rebelled
for all the times He’s caught me when I’ve fallen
for all the times He’s forgiven me when I denied Him
For my friend’s healing
for her sweet baby girl
getting coffee in the mail I had won at Michele-Lyn’s place
my oldest loving his Lego robotics camp
new recipe for grilled cheese: raisin bread, havarti, and apple slices
My lengthy allergy test for penicillin came back negative
Watching Ethan’s robotics championship
hosting a party to say goodbye to good friends who are moving to the other side of the world
the blessing of that friendship
the support of my church community
Linking up with:
What a beautiful baby! I’m so glad the Father didn’t let go…
She is a cutie:) Thanks for visiting!
This is a reminder that we all need. So glad that you wrote about it today, Christina. It helps me with a confusing situation I’m going through. *Hugs*
I’m so glad! Hope everything works out with your struggle. And thanks for your sweet words. Blessings to you!
Amen. And Praise God!
Thank You, Father, for never letting go….and thank You for allowing us to hold that baby tight, too….
I’m so thankful I can rest in the truth that He never lets go, no matter what happens. Blessings to you, Nikki!
Oh what a sweet babe with a precious story already!
“I sink in the waves. And I blame Him for letting go.” Christiana, wise lady, you’ve discovered a tremendous truth that few see these days…
Too often, it’s my go-to response. But I’m learning…slowly:) Thanks for visiting!
So sweet and beautiful! Thanks for sharing His faithfulness and the way He shows it to you!
Thanks, sweet friend:)
What an incredible story, and what incredible truth! When He doesn’t answer the way we want, we think that He has let go – but He never does. Never. Thank you so much for sharing all of this! So beautiful!
Never is an amazing word, isn’t it? For all eternity, He never lets go. Blessings!
Beautiful. What joy it is to see you holding sweet little El. Thank you for writing this today, it was very needed. He never lets us go……
Thanks for letting me use this picture:) I so enjoyed my time with her:) And thanks for visiting. My prayers for you continue. Blessings!
So thankful His grasp is sure, even when we don’t “feel” it. What a gift that baby is to the world beyond her parents. She is a living example of his providence and faithfulness despite circumstances.
Yes, a living example of His faithfulness. And aren’t we all in one way or another? May we all use our stories for His glory. Blessings to you!
Oh so very thankful He holds us…this post makes me think of 2 Tim. 1:12 “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” sweet…coffee in the mail:) Happy Monday to you:)
Perfect verse! Yes, He will guard us for that day. And thanks for visiting!
Love this, reminds me of my lil Isaiah and all the prayers lifted up for him. Such a sweet story of God’s faithfulness and His hold on us. He doesn’t let us go, NEVER!! Even when the chapter doesn’t end the way we want, He still has us in the palm of His hands. His story is more beautiful then we can imagine. SO thankful this baby is here and strong and healthy. Praising God for her right now. What a promise fulfilled to shout out on the roof tops!! GOD IS GOOD!
Amen! God is good! Thanks for your sweet words and for stopping by!
Sweet little gift from God and his Angels… she is adorable.
I am so happy for my friend and her little blessing. And thanks for visiting!
“When prayers aren’t answered the way I want, he’s telling me to watch and wait.” A great word for me these days! Thanks. (And she’s a beautiful little girl!)
Isn’t she? I’m happy to have friends with girls that I can hold since I don’t have any of my own:) Thanks for visiting!
Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I just read this and was overwhelmed..I am longing to adopt a baby and so many things seem against us..so often I just feel like I should give up..He is there always there with His mighty hand and His good plan..picking us up when we fall and forgiving us when we doubt and question Him..I love how you said He loves us as much as He loves Jesus..Wow!!! I wonder, how can He? It is unfathomable, but I continue to be amazed at His mercy, time and time again..
Yes, His mercy is amazing and His timing perfect. May He bless you abundantly through His grace. Thanks for visiting!
Awesome, awesome. Holding those sweet blessings He bestows in answer to our groanings is so precious, but it also made me think of how many more blessings that we can’t see and choose to ignore because we can’t actually hold them in our hands. It’s so important to thank Him for all of them and to really see His incredible goodness. Thank you for reminding of me of that!
Oh yes, to imagine all the blessings I don’t see–amazing to think about but they are there. May He give me eyes to see! Thanks for your visit!
This is beautiful! He never lets go and He is always reaching for us. That was the same thing on my heart today. Thanks for linking up today!
Thanks, Eileen! There is so much comfort, knowing He is always there. May you feel His presence today!
Love this Truth… “When I despair over the unexpected events in life and think that He has let go of me, maybe it’s that I’ve let go of Him.” He is always there pursuing and waiting for us to come back. What a blessing of living proof of this you have in your sweet girl!
When I think of all the ways He pursues me, I am overwhelmed. So glad you visited!
Beautiful truth.
Thank you for sharing your list of thankfulness. So beautiful! I loved this…
“for all the times He’s gone and found me when I’ve wandered
for all the times He’s waited for my return when I’ve rebelled
for all the times He’s caught me when I’ve fallen
for all the times He’s forgiven me when I denied Him”
so authentic.
What a precious, precious baby, and a privilege you had to pray for her and her mother and see the end result! Visiting from Thankful Thursday!
What a beautiful miracle! God is So good!!