God Is Holding Your Hand

Breathe Deep and Know: You can give the worries you’re holding to the One who holds you in His hands. He is there to help you.

Have you ever been afraid and someone reached over and held your hand? Maybe you were waiting in a doctor’s office for some difficult news, or about to get on a ride that was really high and fast, or maybe you were facing a phobia or watching a scary movie or surrounded by a crowd of people or about to walk out onto a stage. There are a lot of things that make us afraid. But there’s a special kind of comfort when someone holds your hand, isn’t there? It’s a simple act of love and support, and sometimes it’s just the thing you need to take that next scary step.

• God is holding your hand today.

Perhaps you feel so afraid that you can’t even reach for Him, let alone hold tightly to His outstretched hand. Don’t be discouraged. You don’t have to be strong enough or brave enough. He is already holding onto you.

Like a father holding his toddler’s hand, God’s grip on you is not dependent upon your strength, but upon the Father’s love. God is holding your hand today. You are safe and loved, and He is here to help you. Give Him your worries and all the things that are making you afraid, and simply take His hand today.

For I hold you by your right hand — I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’ — Isaiah 41:13

Inhale

Lord, You hold my hand;

Exhale

You are here to help me.

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You Need Not Fear

Breathe Deep and Know: God can help you replace fear with power, love, and self-control as you turn to Him and trust Him with your life.

Have you ever felt out of control when you’re afraid or extremely stressed? There’s a physiological reason that happens. When your nervous system senses danger, the amygdala (sometimes called the emotional brain) takes over and literally bypasses the frontal lobe (sometimes called the logic brain) in order to prepare your body for fight, flight, or freeze, in a process that psychologist Daniel Goleman first called “amygdala hijacking.”1 Your body reacts automatically, without intentional thought, and the result can often leave you feeling like you have no control over your reactions or behavior in that moment.

The limbic system serves your body well when you’re facing an actual threat, like a bear attack for example, but it’s not as helpful when the “danger” is merely a stressful situation. These are the times when breath prayers, especially when practiced regularly, can be very helpful. As you slow your breathing, you’re telling your nervous system that there is nothing to fear, which allows your amygdala to chill out a bit and lets your logical brain begin to function again.

Pray the words of this prayer and replace feelings of fear with words of truth.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. — 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

Inhale

You do not give a spirit of fear

Exhale

But of power and love and self-control.

1. The concept of “amygdala hijacking” from Olivia Guy-Evans, “Amygdala Hijack and the Fight or Flight Response,” Simply Psychology, www.simplypsychology.org /what-happens-during-an-amygdala-hijack.html.

Excerpted with permission from Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker, copyright Jennifer Tucker. 

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Your Turn

Are you feeling a great deal of fear these days? God is holding your hand and will not let you go. Slow your breathing down and let the Holy Spirit help you through your feelings and get you back to logic and calm. God is with you! ~ Laurie McClure, Faith.Full