The arm of the Lord

teacuppamela.pngMany times I have stated or thought in times of trial: The arm or the hand of the Lord is not shortened that it cannot save – nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. I say this in response to difficult situations, poor health, wayward children, financial reverses or adversity and, among many other things, despair.

Have you ever sought to understand or answer: How long is the arm of the Lord or how great is the hand of the Lord? And if we cannot begin to answer the question: how long is the arm of the Lord, then how can we possibly fathom that the arm or the hand of the Lord is not shortened that it cannot save.

quotebegin.gif Behold, the LORD’S
hand is not shortened,
that it cannot save;
neither his ear heavy,
that it cannot hear:”
Isaiah 59.1

How great is the Hand of the Lord? The Lord who holds His hand over the sea… The Lord who shakes the trees of the wilderness… The Lord who calms the sea that the wind and the waves obey Him… The Lord who who says (Isaiah 52.2) “Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem?” Do you see: at. all. “Is my hand shortened at all…”

There is nothing too hard for the Lord. I may face a mountain of troubles, I may grieve or struggle with health trials or disappointment or loss or financial adversity – but this I know —I know— there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Nothing. The hand of the Lord is not shortened at all. There is no life, no situation, no trial, no hardship too far or too hard for the Lord. The hand of the Lord is not shortened at all. The enemy of God, the enemy of our souls would have us to believe otherwise. The enemy, the devil, would have us to believe that we are without hope, that we have failed too many times – or worse, that though we might not be failing at the moment, it’s only a matter of time where we will fail again and then again we will be too far for the Lord or beyond hope – beyond hope of ever doing better – ever getting things right. The enemy may even persuade us to believe that it would be better if we were dead – that our life is of little use – of little or no worth – that we are the only ones with the type of troubles or the sins or the perpetual destructive habits.

The enemy is constantly waring against our members seeking whom he may devour. He is at once our tempter, deceiver and accuser. Consider that when temptation comes, it is sweet… seemingly harmless, easy and without consequence: Here… have this food, tell this lie, destroy this evidence, no one will see, no one will know, tell that secret… or whatever. But then if we yield to temptation – whatever it is, instantly(!) our tempter becomes our accuser: Ha, how could you have been so dumb, how could you have done that, you always do that, you’ll never get past this, you’ll never be thin, healthy, strong, trustworthy, competent… or whatever.

But God. We turn to God, we turn to the Truth: And we hear: “Is my hand shortened at all…?”

I think of the verse: “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34.6) You see, the Lord hears and the Lord heals and the Lord lifts. He is at once indeed Jehovah-jireh (the Lord our provider) and Jehovah-rapha (the Lord our healer) and Jehovah-shammah (The Lord is present) and Jehovah-Shalom (the Lord our peace).

He is our All in all – for this I know: He saved this girl. And if He thought on this girl, He will surely think on you. This poor girl cried and the LORD heard her and saved her out of all her troubles. Because this whosoever believed. This whosover believes.

quotebegin.gif That all the people
of the earth might know
the hand of the LORD,
that it is mighty:
that ye might fear the LORD
your God for ever.

Joshua 4.24

We trust in and proclaim His greatness… we consider that His arm is not short nor His hand shortened that it cannot save. Over the past week I have thought on the hand of the LORD… my own hand in pain because of gout/arthritis in my thumb – my hand has failed me, so to speak, a few times – pain prevented its use. But the Lord is never stilted or halted from His work – He is ever present, ever able, ever waiting, ever watching, ever providing, ever preparing, ever guiding, ever preventing… and on and on: ever able. And I marvel that the hand of the Lord is never shortened that it cannot save – no matter what, no matter when.

So, have you asked: How long is the arm of the Lord?

 

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0 thoughts on “The arm of the Lord

  1. Dear Pamela,

    I know you are busy but I just want you to know I am praying that all is well with you and Wes. I hope also that your gout is gone. I will keep checking in to see any new posts- I am sure I am not the only one missing you! 🙂

    Love and blessings,

    Glenys

  2. Pamela,
    First, I love you and your ever encouraging post. It is so amazing how God uses them to speak to me. My 12 year old son enjoyed it as well. So many times we are not diligent to build ourselves up in the faith. This is a great reminder to do so.
    Second,I am so proud of you and Wes for walking out what you believe to be true. It is hard when it involves family. I know that you know this, but I will remind you,if you honor God and His word,He will honor you. I will be praying for you and your family this Christmas.
    We love y’all.
    Melodie

  3. Thank you for this post. I am sorry about the pain you are in. I always come to your site when I need a Godly perspective and honoring thoughts. I am currently undergoing a trial. My mother told me that my homosexual brother is bringing his partner to the Christmas dinner to be held in our home. I have not seen this brother in years and I come from an extremely disfunctional family. We felt this might come up, so my husband and I decided to always hold holidays in our home in order to control alcohol, TV, and also who would be allowed to come. I told my mother “no” and she said we are not true Christians and “Jesus ate with sinners.” My husband said Jesus ate with sinners to call them to repentance, not to just fellowship as if nothing is wrong. We homeschool and homechurch and do not want to open the door to the possibility that my children will see this as okay. We feel when the children can offer a testimony and witness, that is when they can encounter my brother, but not on purely social terms. My sister is also in adultry and undergoing a divorce. She has had surgical procedures and modesty in front of my 12 year old son is an issue. All her children receive psychological counseling. I begin dreading the holidays in August. It is very difficult to say the least.

  4. This was a very timely reminder of the LORD’S sovereignty and protection and strength. I am praying that your thumb heals soon- I have had gout in my toe and it is a fearsome pain!

    Love and blessings.
    Glenys

  5. Dear Pamela,
    your posting is so timely…..I needed to be reminded of how long the arm of the Lord truly is…..my brother has decided to leave his wife….she is devestated! I have been telling her how the Lord is with her and the children during this difficult time. I too have been struggling with wondering where the Lord is through all of this…so to say that I needed to hear this is an understatement! I know that the Lord is there constantly reminding us of his love and mercy….as a young woman I with a very sick child; I saw God’s mercy firsthand when he healed my son….God is so good! He can do all things and we can do all things through him….even walk through the many valleys this life holds…I am reminded that while we are on this earth were are only visitors…that the world’s ways are not our’s….as I sit here this morning and grieve for my lost brother….and grieve for his family; I know I must remember that God’s arm is long and that he his aware of the situation and that will be here for those children and wife through all of this. Thank you for allowing the Lord to speak too you so that you might remind of God’s word.
    Blessings and love,
    Vikki

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