The Glass Hand - May 1,
2001
The front of our church sanctuary, like many others,
features a huge wooden cross. Ours hangs from the ceiling
and on the wall behind it are several small stained glass
windows placed in a random fashion. The top window,
directly above the cross, shows the hand of God reaching
down. I like to look at the cross and that picture of
God's hand during especially moving parts of the
service.
Pam and I don't have a "pew with our name on it", but
we usually sit on an outside aisle so she can get out
more easily after the service. There is a certain seat I
have landed in a few times that bothers me. From this
particular pew, the stained glass hand of God is blocked
from sight by a hanging light fixture. The first time I
noticed this I was disappointed, but then I realized how
appropriate it truly is. Even when I can't see the hand
of God in that window, I know it's still there ... the
same way I know the real hand of God is always present
even when difficulties in life hide Him from my view. The
Bible tells us that "faith is being sure of what we hope
for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)
Faith is knowing, no matter what, that God's hand is
there all the time.
There is a line in a Christian song that says, "When
you can't trace His hand, trust His heart." Maybe you are
at a place right now where you can't trace God's hand.
I've been there many times and I can tell you for
certain, even when you can't see Him, He's there. I've
found a solution when I can't see my favorite window at
church that also works when I can't see God in my life. I
just keep moving toward the cross until the distractions
are behind me. Then His hand comes into plain view and I
can see it clearly once again. Try it, I know it will
work for you too!
