Hold up five fingers.
It’s probably easier to count the ways we’ve felt let down than it is to number the people who support us. We want to point and lay blame on those who’ve wronged us.
Negative always tries to trump good.
How do we turn that around? We start a God-hug list. We can use paper and pen, our phone, or even an oral note-taking recorder. However we do it, write down the times when we sense God in control. We’ll be astonished at how long the list becomes.
We shouldn’t be surprised. These verses from the Old Testament say it all.
Proverbs 3:5-6 proclaims that when our trust is in God, we don’t have to worry about the future.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Psalm 56:3 tells us fear is old dead bones that can’t affect us any longer.
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Proverbs 16:3 assures us that God has our back from this point forward.
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
Isaiah 43:2 is our lifeboat in the flood and our cool drink in the heat of the battle.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
It’s all God’s arms around us, with his voice whispering in our ear, “I’m here for you. Don’t be stressed. No matter how bleak it seems, I’m at your side the entire way.”
Try this: Take those five fingers and hold them out to God. Count your God-hugs as the Father reaches back to you. As the old song says, we need to name our blessings one-by-one. Then we’ll see God at our side through every moment we felt we walked alone.
Our hands work better for hugging than they ever did for pointing out blame. Let’s use them for their intended purpose.
When our blessings are front and center in our thoughts, we’ll feel like a winner every time.
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