It’s in the hands of such a Friend, Jesus Christ!

Are you facing a crossroads kind of decision today? Me too. Is it overwhelming? Are you also asking God for His wisdom, even as we try to make educated guesses based on our limited human understanding?

One of my favorite little choruses sings, “God knows all, God knows best.” As I make decisions about surgery and face an unknown future in the hands of a brilliant and compassionate brain surgeon, I’ve learned that some wake up with worsened pain and disability. Some die. Some have such a reduction in symptoms that they’re able to function fully after the hard recovery, given a longer and more comfortable earthly life. There is no earthly wisdom offered.

None.

I am weak, but Thou art strong.

Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer, ever be my strength and shield.

While advisors can sometimes offer “odds” of “successful outcomes,” what is actually true?

Our lives are actually in the hands of our strong and mighty God who knows all and knows best.

The outcomes are in these hands, such a Friend, our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ.

Like the truest Friend, He has calmed my heart through His Word, into release and rested peace amid fears of possible outcomes.

I need Thee, every hour.

Will you join me in adoration of our Friend, interrupting our suffering?

I’m forever unified with my Friend, Jesus

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!
He loved me ere I knew him;
he drew me with the cords of love,
and thus he bound me to him.

(“I’ve Found a Friend, O Such a Friend!” by J. G. Small, 1866)

and round my heart still closely twine
those ties which naught can sever…

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1 ESV).

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (Col. 3:3-4 ESV).

for I am his, and he is mine,
forever and forever.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!
He bled, he died to save me.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (Jn. 15: 13 ESV).

Naught that I have, mine own I’ll call,
I’ll hold it for the Giver…

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21 ESV).

my heart, my strength, my life, my all
are his, and his forever.

and not alone the gift of life,
but his own self he gave me!

My Friend is the all-powerful Good Shepherd

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!
All power to him is given.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (Jn. 10:27 ESV).

to guard me on my onward course,
and bring me safe to heaven.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Pet. 2:24-25 ESV).

Eternal glory gleams afar,
to nerve my faint endeavor.

Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began (2 Tim. 1:9 ESV).

so now to watch, to work, to war…

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (Jn. 15:5 ESV).

and then to rest forever.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his (Rom. 6:5 ESV).

Such a Friend is transforming me, in anything He guides me through

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!
So kind and true and tender.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Ps. 23:3-4 ESV).

From him who loves me now so well
what power my soul can sever?

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:6 ESV).

so wise a Counselor and guide,
so mighty a defender!

No matter what happens, I am in the hands of such a Friend, Jesus Christ

Shall life or death, shall earth or hell?
No! I am his forever.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory (Eph. 1:13-14 ESV).

And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4 ESV). 

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 

equip you with everything good that you may do his will, 

working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, 

through Jesus Christ, 

to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Heb. 13:20-21 ESV).

Singing to Jesus, resting our unknown future in His hands

Sister in Christ, I’m praying that this beautiful hymn and these Scriptures have been God’s gift of peace to you too, in whatever you’re facing. Jesus is our perfect Friend, shepherding us into our unknown future, with His perfecting power and continual presence through the Holy Spirit within. Hallelujah!

If this week’s playlist gift that sings of all of it to Jesus, would encourage your heart as you suffer trials, sign up below and it will come to your email. As I face big decisions with its unknowns, I’m singing to Him alongside you.