Lord, I'm trusting my times are in Your hand * Singing Christ's Hope

I found myself writing in pencil as I began filling out my 2021 calendar. 2020 taught me, “Don’t use pen!” Why?

“You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?…You ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that’” (Jas. 4:14-15 ESV).

To the world, this may provoke fear. It contradicts any random coincidence, accident, or mistaken event. It contradicts a god who’d say, “Oops, sorry, that one got by me.” It contradicts a god who only allows what I deem to be pleasing and perfect in my life. No, Lord, my times are in Your hand.

Who holds our times?

The holy and perfect LORD, unchanging in essence and character, holds our times. Psalm 31 describes Him with comforting words. He is our rock of refuge and strong fortress, leader and guide, our Redeemer. He is always righteous, faithful, steadfastly loving, and abundantly good.

Because our times are in His hand, we can praise His holy name or character into hard times.

My praise is not natural—it’s a hard-fought battle, often through tears. Why would I grumble and complain? Why would I be afraid of what might happen? Because my controlling sin nature takes my thoughts there. By His illuminating and loving grace, He takes me to His Word in forgiveness. I re-turn and believe in who the Lord says He is, when my times are laden with suffering. Our Father holds those times because He holds everything transpiring in 2021.

He is holding your times too, beloved.

My times are in Thy hand

Let’s pray along with the hymnwriter and the Word of God. As 2021 begins, let’s declare along with the Psalmist:

“But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God’” (Ps. 31:14 ESV).

My times are in Thy hand;
my God, I wish them there;
my life, my friends, my soul,

I leave
entirely to Thy care.

My times are in Thy hand,
whatever they may be;
pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
as best may seem to Thee.

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life” (Ps. 138:7b ESV).

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf” (Heb. 6:19-20b ESV).

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18 ESV).

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows (Mt. 10:29-31).

My times are in Your hand

My times are in Thy hand;
why should I doubt or fear?

My Father’s hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (I Pet. 4:12 ESV).

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them (Ps. 139:16 ESV).

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Cor. 4:17 ESV).

My times are in Your hand

My times are in Thy hand,
Jesus the Crucified;

those hands my cruel sins had pierced
are now my guard and guide.

(“My Times are in Thy Hand,” Lloyd, W.F., 1824).

“[Jesus] gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Gal. 1:4 ESV).

“O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress” (Ps. 59:9 ESV).

Lord, I’m trusting You

“From the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I” (Ps. 61:2 ESV).

“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul” (Ps. 143:8 ESV).

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (I Pet. 5:6-7 ESV).