I was in trouble, and I knew it. I was too exhausted to do anything about it, even though there was nothing I could do. I was limited to listening as my doctor conversed with my husband in our labor and delivery hospital room. She had just informed us that my blood had no ability to clot and that delivery was not progressing. I needed to be taken immediately for an emergency c-section.

As I was whisked away, I knew that I might not wake up. After all, my blood wasn’t clotting and they were about to cut a big hole in my abdomen. My thoughts turned to my husband, who in a matter of minutes could be left as a widower with a newborn. But in the midst of the rush and people swarming around me, I felt peace. God calmed my heart, even though I didn’t know how this crisis would conclude. He was there with me.

He wasn’t the only one that was there with me. As I was wheeled down the hall and prepared for general anesthesia, someone was holding my hand. I don’t know who it was and I couldn’t see them. In the midst of everything going on around me, the warm pressure of someone holding my hand was deeply comforting.

Afterwards, as I was in the recovery room, I spoke to the nurse briefly. I commented that someone had been holding my hand. She replied that someone had. I asked her to please thank the person. That simple act had meant so much to me.

As we journey through this coronavirus crisis, I find myself grieving the loss of touch. There is an undeniable power in a hug, holding hands, or in simply placing one’s hand on another’s arm or shoulder. These gestures communicate loving care and support. These are gestures that are not safe or accepted in this crisis.

As I was reading this week, I came across Psalm 73:23 (NIV) which says:

Yet I am always with you;
You hold me by my right hand.

Even though I can’t give you a hug of reassurance or hold your hand right now, God is holding your hand. He’s holding your right hand. In ancient times the right hand represented strength and action. If God is holding your right hand, your right hand isn’t available to do anything else. Instead, God is acting for you, on your behalf. He is also giving you strength to get through each moment. It’s a rather relevant picture of our situation at the moment. There’s not much we can do. We need to rest in the assurance that God is holding our hand and acting on our behalf.

I became curious to find other Bible verses about how God holds our hand. I found Isaiah 41:13 (NIV):

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you.

I then read it in Hebrew and found that the word for “hold” was a different verb. Strong’s concordance defines hold (270 אחז) in Psalm 73 as: to grasp, take hold, or take possession, while hold in Isaiah 41 (2388 חזק) is defined as: to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen. At times this second word is translated in English Bibles as encourage.

God desires for you to know that He has taken hold of your hand. He wants to help you grow strong and courageous. He is your encourager, your helper. Does that not blow your mind?! The God and creator of the universe desires to help and encourage you! You are so very precious to Him!

As these days pass into weeks, remember, God has your hand. He is acting on your behalf and is working to strengthen and encourage you. Let us also encourage one another. Even though we cannot physically hold each other’s hands, we can find other ways to be an encouragement. Pray that God would give you simple and creative ways to show others that you care and to encourage them during these stressful and lonely times. Please share in the comment area your ideas or what has encouraged you. Some of us could use some helpful ideas.

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Instead of links to Scripture passages this week, I have written out five passages that contain one of the two “hold” verbs discussed in this post. All verses are in the NIV. Read Psalm 139 several times this week.

Psalm 139:10 – Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (to grasp or hold)

1 Samuel 23:16 – And Saul’s son Johnathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. (Encourage and pray for friends and family.)

2 Chronicles 35:2 – He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the Lord’s temple. (Encourage and pray for pastors and ministry staff.)

Ezra 7:28b – Because the hand of the Lord was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me. (Encourage and pray for leaders.)

Job 4:3-4 – Think how you have instructed so many, how you have strengthened feeble hands. Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. (Encourage and pray for those who are weak, or sick.)