The touch of His hand

In her book A Slow and Certain Light, Elisabeth Elliott wrote: ‘When I lived in the Forest of Ecuador, I usually travelled on foot…Trails often led through streams and rivers which we had to wade, but sometimes there was a log high above the water which we had to cross. I dreaded those logs and was always tempted to take the steep, hard way down into the ravine and up the other side. But the [local guides] would say, “Just walk across, senorita,” and over they would go, light-footed and confident. I was barefoot as they were, but it was not enough. On the log, I couldn’t keep from looking down at the river below. I feared I would slip. I had never been any good at balancing myself…so my guide would stretch out a hand, and the touch of it was all I needed. I stopped worrying about slipping. I stopped looking down at the river or even the log and looked at the guide, who held my hand with only the slightest touch. When I reached the other side, I realised that if I had slipped, he would have held me. His being there, and his touch, were all I needed.’ That’s all you need too: to experience God’s presence and feel His touch. Daniel wrote: ‘The one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said…”Beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me”’ (vv. 18-19 NKJV).© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.