What Is That In Your Hand?
by Rosella Shishido, Communications Ministry Coordinator
It hadn’t been a good week. I was feeling blah — lethargic, discouraged, disconnected, unappreciated. Like nothing I did mattered. Sometimes I would describe it as being in a funk. All I wanted to do was stay in bed, not do anything, and not take care of anybody. I felt useless.
But thankfully Jesus doesn’t give up on us easily. Every day I would feel His nudge to spend quiet time with Him, even just to read the Bible. And so I did that, even if it felt like I was just going through the motions. I trusted that Jesus would somehow get me off this funk by speaking to me through His Word.
And He did!
The readings for that day in the Bible plan I was on were chapters 3 and 4 of the book of Exodus in the Old Testament. God told Moses that He had chosen him to lead the Israelites out of slavery from Egypt and into the Promised Land, but Moses doubted that he was the right guy for the job. And that’s when God asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2)
I’ve read that verse many, many times before, but that morning — boom! I felt a quickening in my spirit. It was like the question was meant FOR ME.
“What is that in your hand?” God asked.
And what came to mind right away were the God-sent blessings I had at that moment and continue to have today: family, friends, job, house, talents, skills, spiritual gifts, money, opportunities, health, freedom, technology, water, electricity ......
My mental list went on and on and on.
God’s message for me through that verse was this: I am to use what I already have for the work He has entrusted to me. He has already given me the resources I need. He has also given me family and friends who can cheer me on when times get hard. I am not invisible to Him or to others.
I also realized that I had other things in my hand. Sadly I was holding on to past hurts, regrets, the what-could’ve-been’s, and the what-I-wish-I-had’s. Time to let go, God said. Time to let go.
What about you? What’s in your hand?
Start a list. And don’t forget to include your talents, skills, and spiritual gifts that make you unique. God loves you just the way you are.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the countless blessings You’ve given me! Please help me to steward them well in ways that will point people to You, and in ways that will promote wellness, compassion, justice, kindness, and peace. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
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