Directly from the Father's Hand {Psalm 31:15}

How often do we find ourselves trying to seek control and manipulate challenging circumstances that come about in our lives instead of first and foremost surrendering ourselves and our circumstances to the loving and authoritative, sovereign hand of the Lord? The reminder in Psalm 31:15 is, “My times are in your hand.” God has ordained every circumstance of our lives to be worked out for our good and for His glory. We can rest knowing that every aspect of our lives is under His divine control.

I’m sharing an excerpt from a favorite devotional of mine called, Seasons of the Heart: A Year of Devotions from One Generation of Women to Another. This sweet read allows us to sit in the company of godly women of the past and be blessed by their great love of Christ.

The excerpt below is one of many from Susannah Spurgeon that are included in the devotional. A few other of my favorite writers included are Mary Winslow, Ruth Bryan and Frances Ridley Havergal.

Come sit with Psalm 31 and Susannah Spurgeon as she shares with us the reminder that – our times are in His hand.

All Directly from Father’s Hand

My times are in thy hand. —PSALM 31:15

Why need I trouble or tremble? That great, loving, powerful hand keeps all the events of my life sealed and secure within its almighty clasp, and only He, my Maker and Master, can permit them to pass from His keeping and be revealed to me one by one as His will for me. What a compassionate, gracious arrangement! How eminently fitted to fulfill that sweet promise of His Word, “Thou shalt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee!” If we fully believed this, we should be absolutely devoid of the care that corrodes and chafes the daily life of so many professing Christians.

“Thou shalt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee!”

Not one or two important epochs of my history only, but everything that concerns me—joys that I had not expected; sorrows that must have crushed me if they could have been anticipated; sufferings that might have terrified me by their grimness had I looked upon them; surprises that infinite love had prepared for me; services of which I could not have imagined myself capable—all these lay in that mighty hand as the purposes of God’s eternal will for me.

But, as they have developed gradually and silently, how great has been the love that appeared, enwrapping and enfolding each one! Has not the grief been measured, while the gladness has far more abounded? Have not the comforts and consolations exceeded the crosses and complaints? Have not all things been so arranged, ordered, undertaken, and worked out on our behalf that we can but marvel at the goodness and wisdom of God in meting out from that dear hand of His all the times that have passed over us? You agree with me in all this, do you not, dear reader?

Then, I pray you, apply it to your present circumstances, however dark or difficult they may be. They have come direct from your Father’s hand to you, and they are His dear will.

~ Susannah Spurgeon, Seasons of the Heart: A Year of Devotions from One Generation of Women to Another by Donna Kelderman (January 15th excerpt)