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Hand Over Hand We Grow

  • Abigail Wallace
  • September 21, 2022
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“I can’t do this, Mom. It feels weird. It’s too hard.”

“Cursive is hard. I’ll hold your hand until you get the feel of it.”

In school we call that “hand over hand.” Teachers go “hand over hand” if something is really hard to do. It is a prompt for the most needy and the least independent.

When a student cannot trace a letter or cut a straight line, teachers may guide his hand. Moms steer little spoons held by chubby hands into mouths by holding those hands in ours.

Cursive is hard. That’s why Gabe’s wanted to quit after two minutes. Loving like Jesus loved is hard, too.

We need our Father’s help to love like this. Thankfully, as C.S. Lewis put it, “He puts a little of His love into us and that is how we love one another […] We love because God loves and reasons and holds our hand while we do.”

Gabe eventually mastered those looping letters. His cursive is at least legible. In physical life, growing up means less dependence on Mom and Dad. Independence means maturity. But spiritually, it’s the exact opposite. We’ll never grow so mature that we need God less. Instead, as we grow in faith, we become even more dependent on our Heavenly Father.

The hand that created the world (Acts 7:50) and feeds it good things (Psalm 104:28) is the same hand that holds our times (Psalm 31:15) and even our breath (Daniel 5:23). What would it look like for you to welcome God’s guiding fatherly hand holding yours today?

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand” (Psalm 73:23).

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Abigail Wallace

Abigail is a Bible teacher and writer whose greatest joys come from helping women grow strong in their faith as they learn to see through their "hard" to the loving hand of God. Abigail lives in a little house in the big woods of Wisconsin with her husband and two sons. She loves to stalk sunsets, walk with friends, and mark all over books as she reads. Sign up for more soul-strengthening, biblical encouragement at AbigailWallace.com or follow her on Facebook or Instagram.

8 comments
  1. MJ Wallace says:
    September 21, 2022 at 6:36 am

    Indeed! The grow with Him, the more I need Him!!!

    Reply
    1. Abigail says:
      September 21, 2022 at 7:11 am

      Hallelujah that God is exalted by our neediness!

      Reply
  2. Jen Boucher says:
    September 21, 2022 at 6:53 am

    Beautiful analogy. The more I grow, the more I see my need for my Father’s guiding hand!

    Reply
    1. Abigail says:
      September 21, 2022 at 7:12 am

      Thank you, Jen! Me too. What a gift that is, no matter our age!

      Reply
  3. Jeri Lynn Wilkerson says:
    September 21, 2022 at 5:36 pm

    Love this!

    Reply
    1. Abigail says:
      September 21, 2022 at 6:35 pm

      Hallelujah!

      Reply
  4. Cora Bushey says:
    September 25, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    Beautifully expressed! Each new season in life I’m relying on God in different ways for his loving, guiding hand. And sometimes I need a refresher in old lessons too 😉

    Reply
  5. Abigail says:
    September 26, 2022 at 9:44 pm

    Thanks, Cora. I so agree. Each season is a new opportunity to let his hand guide.

    Reply

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