I Know Who Holds My Hand
I
first heard this song many years ago. Not long ago our daughter, Anna, shared
with me a memory of hearing my Dad singing this song often. His days were cut
short with heart trouble. He lived his life with enthusiasm and all-out love,
no matter what he did. The thought of him singing the lyrics fills my heart
with joy – I don’t know about tomorrow, I
just live from day to day, I don’t borrow from its sunshine, For its skies may turn to gray. I don’t worry
o’er the future, For I know what Jesus said…Many things about tomorrow, I don’t
seem to understand, But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.
first heard this song many years ago. Not long ago our daughter, Anna, shared
with me a memory of hearing my Dad singing this song often. His days were cut
short with heart trouble. He lived his life with enthusiasm and all-out love,
no matter what he did. The thought of him singing the lyrics fills my heart
with joy – I don’t know about tomorrow, I
just live from day to day, I don’t borrow from its sunshine, For its skies may turn to gray. I don’t worry
o’er the future, For I know what Jesus said…Many things about tomorrow, I don’t
seem to understand, But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.
The moment we share is the moment of
death in God’s time. Each time I visit my husband in the nursing home my heart
is transported to God’s Waiting Room,
as one of my friends there named it. It is not a depressing thought, but one of
ultimate hope and joy of the future with Him.
death in God’s time. Each time I visit my husband in the nursing home my heart
is transported to God’s Waiting Room,
as one of my friends there named it. It is not a depressing thought, but one of
ultimate hope and joy of the future with Him.
Two phrases from John 16:31-32 catch my
heart! Yet I am
not alone because the Father is with me. But take heart, because I have
overcome the world. Being alone, estranged from loved ones, no
matter what the reason, leaves us weeping. But our hope will ever be in Jesus
through this life and beyond. Jesus knew this truth and shared it with his
disciples. The disciples did not yet understand the purpose of God. His followers would soon scatter. Jesus knew He would soon be crucified as a
blood sacrifice for all sinners. The trials and sorrows on earth would come to
them, and yet, through the resurrection of Jesus on the third day they would
know. They would know Jesus overcame the world, for God was with Him. The pain
Jesus endured as our blood sacrifice was physical and emotional beyond our belief
and understanding.
heart! Yet I am
not alone because the Father is with me. But take heart, because I have
overcome the world. Being alone, estranged from loved ones, no
matter what the reason, leaves us weeping. But our hope will ever be in Jesus
through this life and beyond. Jesus knew this truth and shared it with his
disciples. The disciples did not yet understand the purpose of God. His followers would soon scatter. Jesus knew He would soon be crucified as a
blood sacrifice for all sinners. The trials and sorrows on earth would come to
them, and yet, through the resurrection of Jesus on the third day they would
know. They would know Jesus overcame the world, for God was with Him. The pain
Jesus endured as our blood sacrifice was physical and emotional beyond our belief
and understanding.
What we do see
is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the
angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory
and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was
made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he
should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them
into their salvation. Hebrews 2:9-10.
is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the
angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory
and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was
made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he
should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them
into their salvation. Hebrews 2:9-10.
Who wrote this hymn of faith and
trust? Ira Stanphill, born February 14,
1914, in New Mexico. By the age of ten, Ira played the piano, organ and accordion. Later he added xylophone, guitar and
clarinet. By the age of twelve, Ira
accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior. Ira began writing gospel songs at the
age of seventeen and began preaching at the age of twenty-two. Some of the
songs he wrote were Mansion Over the
Hilltop, Room at the Cross, We’ll Talk It Over, Happiness in the Lord, Inside
Those Pearly Gates, and God can Do Anything, but Fail, and Unworthy and more.
trust? Ira Stanphill, born February 14,
1914, in New Mexico. By the age of ten, Ira played the piano, organ and accordion. Later he added xylophone, guitar and
clarinet. By the age of twelve, Ira
accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior. Ira began writing gospel songs at the
age of seventeen and began preaching at the age of twenty-two. Some of the
songs he wrote were Mansion Over the
Hilltop, Room at the Cross, We’ll Talk It Over, Happiness in the Lord, Inside
Those Pearly Gates, and God can Do Anything, but Fail, and Unworthy and more.
During
a time of sorrow and stress, 1950, Ira Stanphill wrote “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”. This
was during a time of mourning for his first wife, Zelma. Ira died in 1993, just
before his 80th birthday.
a time of sorrow and stress, 1950, Ira Stanphill wrote “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”. This
was during a time of mourning for his first wife, Zelma. Ira died in 1993, just
before his 80th birthday.
Waiting
for the Lord seems to take forever. We are tied to a schedule we can manipulate
on earth. Waiting for anything seems preposterous to us. We have become accustomed
to ‘instant’ everything. Patience is one
of the fruit of the Spirit. It is given to
us when we choose to follow Jesus.
for the Lord seems to take forever. We are tied to a schedule we can manipulate
on earth. Waiting for anything seems preposterous to us. We have become accustomed
to ‘instant’ everything. Patience is one
of the fruit of the Spirit. It is given to
us when we choose to follow Jesus.
Proverbs
3:5-6 tells the way to wait most clearly…Trust
in the Lord with all
your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.
3:5-6 tells the way to wait most clearly…Trust
in the Lord with all
your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.
Wait patiently
for the Lord. Be brave and
courageous. Yes, wait patiently
for the Lord. Psalm 27:14.
for the Lord. Be brave and
courageous. Yes, wait patiently
for the Lord. Psalm 27:14.
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.
Psalm
62:5.
62:5.
Just as we wait on fruit to ripen, it
takes time for our faith and trust in God to ripen. Waiting is a two-way street
– So the Lord must wait for you to come to Him so He
can show you His love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help. Isaiah 30:18. Great is His Faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:23a)
takes time for our faith and trust in God to ripen. Waiting is a two-way street
– So the Lord must wait for you to come to Him so He
can show you His love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help. Isaiah 30:18. Great is His Faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:23a)
When we understand we live our lives in
the Name of Jesus. In wonder and humility, we begin to understand His purpose
for us on this earth. The Adventure of Life in Jesus is not through ‘where’ we
have been, ‘what’ we have seen, or what we have ‘done’. Our life’s Adventure begins following Jesus and
ends in eternity with Christ Jesus! I know Who holds
tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.
the Name of Jesus. In wonder and humility, we begin to understand His purpose
for us on this earth. The Adventure of Life in Jesus is not through ‘where’ we
have been, ‘what’ we have seen, or what we have ‘done’. Our life’s Adventure begins following Jesus and
ends in eternity with Christ Jesus! I know Who holds
tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.
Philippians 3:20 – But we are citizens of heaven, where the
Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
2 Peter 3:14 – And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen,
make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless
in his sight.
make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless
in his sight.
Romans 15:3-4 –
For even Christ didn’t live to please
himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God,
have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to
teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait
patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
For even Christ didn’t live to please
himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God,
have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to
teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait
patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Psalm 25:4-6 – Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead
me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Remember, O Lord,
your compassion and unfailing love, which
you have shown from long ages past.
me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Remember, O Lord,
your compassion and unfailing love, which
you have shown from long ages past.
I John 4:9-10 – God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son
into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but
that He loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but
that He loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Comments? eacombs@att.net