What's In Your Hand?

With our hands, we can hold things. With our hands, we can grasp things. Once we grasp something, we possess it and it's in our hold. Not only can we grasp things with our hands, but we can also let things go. The same way our hand can open up and let things drop, they can also close things up in their grasp. For the most part, we can control and choose what we let in our hands. We can also choose what we let drop out of our hands. Before we go any further, I want to take you to Exodus 3. In chapter 3, God saw how the Israelites had been treated as slaves in Egypt for many years. God said enough was enough and wanted His people the Israelites to come out what they were going through. So God decided to send Moses to confront the leader Pharaoh and tell him to let the people go. You see, Pharaoh wasn't the easiest person to confront and tell a request like that to. You know anybody like that?! As Moses was having his doubts about going (as we do about things!), God reassured Moses that He would be with him. As we move to Exodus 4, verse 1, we see Moses still dealing with doubt and telling God that the people in Egypt are not going to believe or listen to him when he gives the message. Can you relate to that? Hmmhmm..I think a lot of us can! So in verse 2, God asks Moses the question, "What is in your hand?" Moses told him that that he had a rod (stick) in his hand. God told Moses to throw it on the ground. He did and it turned into a snake. Moses jumped back from it as many of us might have done! Next, God told him to grab the snake by its tail. When Moses picked it up by its tail, it turned back into a rod again (v. 3-5)! They would know for sure that God sent him after seeing that miraculous sign! What God had placed in Moses' hand was powerful, useful and could not be wasted. Just like Moses had the stick God placed in his hand, we have something that has been placed in our hand that can be useful and powerful. No, it may not be a stick, but it's something. What's in your hand? What do you have in your grasp, your possession? For some, it's the pen or pencil to write with. For some, it's the paintbrush or the colored pencils to paint and draw with. For some, it's the tape measure and building supplies to build with. For others, it's the microphone to speak or sing in. For others, it's the musical instrument to play on or styling tools to get someone's hair looking just right. For still others, it's the business plan, design, vision that you're holding on to. During this quarantine season, many people are posting videos on social media and YouTube of how to do certain skills (hair care tips come to my mind!), prayer, church services, songs and motivational messages. I have been watching many of them and they have uplifted and helped me in this season. I'm so grateful (along with others I know!) that people used what they had in their hand with technology to help others. Moses had to use what was in his hand to carry out the task God wanted him to do and let the people see that God sent him. Moses did go to Egypt and talk to Pharaoh. No, Pharaoh did not let the people go right away, but he eventually did. They came out what they were going through! Let's use what we have in our hand. Let's use what God has given us. You may be thinking it's not enough or what impact could it really have. If at least one person is helped, it's all worth it! No, we don't need to compare what we have in our hand to what someone else has in theirs. We need to use what we have. Whether it's the pen or paintbrush, the microphone or the musical instrument, use what you have. What you have is needed and important. What we use will help take us and others to the next level. What's in our hand will help us get to the other side of what we're going through. Use what's in your hand!