Held in God’s Hands
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me, for my Father has given them to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.” —John 10:28–29 (NLT)
In 2011, author and speaker Nancy Guthrie shared about the grief of losing two children to a rare genetic disorder. She wrote, “We trusted God would heal them, and He did. Just not in the way we expected. He took them to be with Him.”[1] Her testimony revealed that even in deep sorrow, she found comfort in knowing that her children were held securely in God’s hands.
Grief often feels like life has slipped out of control. We may feel helpless, vulnerable, and even abandoned. But Jesus offers a powerful promise: Those who belong to Him are eternally secure in the Father’s hands. When loss strikes, this truth is like an anchor in the storm—what is held by God cannot be lost.
Jesus’ words remind us that grief doesn’t change our standing with Him. We are not forgotten. We are not unprotected. Nothing—not death, pain, or loss—can snatch us out of God’s hands. In grief, we cling not only to the memory of our loved ones, but to the One who promises eternal life and abiding presence.
This doesn’t erase the pain of loss, but it reframes it. It assures us that our life—and the life of those we love—is held within the bigger, eternal story of God. Grief may shift our world, but God’s grip never loosens.
Practical Application:
Write down one fear or emotion you’ve been holding since your loss. Take a few minutes to pray and physically place that note into your Bible as a symbol of releasing it into God’s hands.
Reflection:
What helps you feel secure when your emotions are unraveling in grief?
Prayer:
Father, thank You that I am always held in Your hands. When grief makes me feel fragile and fearful, remind me of Your unshakable strength and unending love. Help me to rest in the assurance that I am Yours, forever secure in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Read More: Romans 8:38–39; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 73:23–26; Deuteronomy 33:27; Philippians 1:6
Theme Tag: Devotion 2: Hope in Grief and Loss
[1] Nancy Guthrie, Holding on to Hope: A Pathway through Suffering to the Heart of God (Tyndale House, 2002).
