I can still hear her singing. “Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.” I can still see flour all over her and the kitchen as she sings. I’m sure it’s not one particular instance but many moments smashed together over time. My Granny was not know for her musical ability, or even the ability to sing on key, but she was known for her unwavering faith.
There are circumstances that take me back to those summer days at my Aunt Paulette’s house learning lessons that I couldn’t have learned anywhere else. It was here, in those rainy Florida afternoons when we were forced out of the pool and into the house, that I learned my family’s history and how to pray. I would take lots of detours throughout the next 20 years, but the foundation of prayer in my Granny’s closet and lifestyle of worship would be dug up and dusted off and put to use to build my life.
Like many, my family history was one wrought with trials and death, victories and supernatural provision. I know the stories by heart now and I’ve added my own stories to the list. One thing remains in all the stories, God is faithful. God can be trusted. God will fight for you. This is why Granny would sing. She knew. She knew in times of trial, attack of the enemy, not knowing where her family’s next meal was coming from, that she was holding tightly to the hand of God and out of his hand came supernatural provision and defeat of the enemy.
Most of the time, I feel so weak and so powerless. I don’t see any way out of our current circumstances. I feel overwhelmed; as if life’s circumstances are going to overtake me like waves at the beach, pushing me under the water and drifting out to sea. I feel as if this attack or trial or twist in the journey is going to be the one to take me out. However, I’m reminded of what my Granny would do…
My grandmother would sing this song that I’m reminded of when life just seems so difficult. When life seems like the enemy is sitting on my doorstep waiting to pounce and devour or slither in and choke the life out of me and my family.
“Time is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.”
God’s hand is unchanging and all powerful. The story in 2 Chronicles 20 of Jehoshaphat facing multiple armies and knowing Israel couldn’t defeat them on their own cries out to God and says, “Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You,” (2 Chronicles 20: 6b)
All power and might is in his hand and I’m holding tight to his hand. His unchanging hand. His hand that when the enemy comes in like a flood he holds up his mighty hand and his Spirit causes the enemy to disappear. (Isaiah 59:19)
So like my grandmother learned, like I’ve learned, old to God’s unchanging, powerful, almighty hand when the world is in swift transition. When the enemy is coming in like a flood. When the army of the enemy is on your doorstep. Stand firm and watch the salvation of the Lord as his unchanging hand not only holds us but removes the enemy.
