In His Hands

Tonight while I was brushing the kids’ teeth, Chad came into the bathroom with his ukulele, and before long we were in full blown sing-along mode.  At one point, Chad was standing in the middle of the bathroom, singing at the top of his lungs, and all three kids were sitting at his feet as if he were the new Elvis of the elementary school set.   Then he busted out an oldie but a goodie:  “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”

We sang together, enjoying the last few moments of the day, and the final memories of spring break were made during this verse:

He’s got the little bitty babies in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands.

We herded the kids out of the bathroom and off to bed, and I put on my comfy pants and sat down on this couch.  The verse we had just sung was hanging in the air around me like a whisper.  I sang it absentmindedly while I picked up dirty socks and put green shirts in the wash to ensure that no pinching befalls my people on Saint Patrick’s Day.  I sang, and I thought about the Malaysian airplane that has vanished without a trace.  He’s got you and me, brother, in His hands. . .

I sang, and I remembered the moment when the doctor told me that my pregnancy was over.  He’s got the wind and the rain in His hands. . .

I sang, and I thought about how often I try to control what’s happening around me.  He’s got the whole world in His hands. . .

It’s a silly kids’ song.  But, it does ring with truth.  The Bible tells us that not even a little bird will fall from the sky without God’s involvement.  It tells us that we make lots of plans, but the Lord determines which way we go.  It tells us that He knows exactly how many hairs are on each and every head.  The Bible makes it clear that He is more than a distant God who spun the universe into being and then sat back to watch what would happen next.  He is ever present, and He is firmly in control.

Yes, as a matter of fact, He really does have this whole crazy messed up world in His hands.  And He knows exactly what He is doing.

So, when we are worried, when we can’t see how an airplane could disappear, when we get bad news, when we just feel lost, we can know that God has the little bitty babies, even the little bitty birds, in His hands, and He is carrying us, too.

So, keep singing.  Keeping remembering.  We are never forgotten.  We are held tight in the loving hands of a God who doesn’t let go, who doesn’t make mistakes, and who isn’t worried even a little bit.

My kids went to bed singing about that truth tonight.  And, I pray when we all wake up tomorrow, whatever the day may hold, that we will be able to sing with assurance that He has the whole world in His hands, and He isn’t letting go anytime soon.

Sing on, my friends.  Ukulele optional.