All we need to know

Posted on February 12, 2012 
Filed under Opinion

Bishop of Armidale Peter Brain writes:

“How good it is to know that we need never face a day alone or a circumstance with fear.”

“We were walking down the road to the railway bridge, my son and son-in-law with their two little boys and daughter, hand in hand. Then when we heard the sound of a dog barking, I could feel their grip tighten. Neither I nor their fathers pushed them away. Indeed the two youngest moved closer and found reassurance in their father’s presence.  

There are many things that can scare us, as adults and children. The world we live in is good with many pleasures but also many snares that can trip us up and cause us anxiety. How good it is to know that we need never face a day alone or a circumstance with fear. As a young child finds reassurance from their father’s or mother’s presence, so we can find peace and strength from God’s.

King George VI in his Christmas address to a nation at war in 1939 said ‘I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown,” and he replied, “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God and it shall be to you better than light and safer than the known (way)”’.

What sound advice the King gave when he spoke like this. But how do we put our hand into God’s hand? Recently we sang that great old hymn, ‘What a friend we have in Jesus! all our sins and griefs to bear; What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.’ There need be no day in our life when we don’t consciously put our hand into God’s hand by simple trusting prayer. Some will perhaps be cynical and say ‘well, that’s all right for little children who can see and feel their father’s hand, but it doesn’t work. How can I trust someone I’ve never met?’ I’ve never met the person who discovered how electricity can be harnessed and used at the flick of a switch but I certainly enjoy the benefits. I can experience the fruits of electricity and every time I use it, it confirms to me that it is there. Indeed it has become second nature for me to flick the switch to turn on the bathroom light, heater (in winter), electric jug, toaster, and so it goes on.

In the same way, we know that Jesus lived amongst us and did so much good for others. We know that His hands are nail-pierced hands and we can hear Him, with outstretched hands, saying ‘Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy laden.’ All we need to do is to take Him at His word and prayerfully trust Him each day. Not only will it become second nature for us but we will experience the great benefits of doing so.

Life will still throw up its challenges. Sickness will still come to us and death will stalk our door but not even these will need to cripple us with anxiety. Those nail-pierced hands remind us of Jesus’ deep love for us, a love that understands us during our times of anxiety, temptation and trials. Don’t let age cause you to become jaded, cynical or indifferent to God, since He would long to be the Father who will never hurt you, let you down or disappoint you.

At the end of the day this is all we need to know – that God can be trusted.

Peter Brain
Bishop of Armidale ”

(Source: Diocese of Armidale. Photo: Russell Powell.)