«Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand» (Psalm 37:24, NLT).
JOHN N. ANDREWS (1829-1883) is regarded as an Adventist pioneer whose life was a fascinating adventure of faith. Proof of this is how he coped with his daughter Mary’s illness and subsequent death.
As he was giving an evangelistic series in Europe, Andrews received a telegram informing him that his daughter Mary was very ill. So he decided to return to the United States, to take her to Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan. Although the young lady received the best medical care under the guidance of Dr. John H. Kellogg, the illness took her life.
His daughter’s death was a terrible blow for John N. Andrews. In a conversation he had with his friend, Mr. Kinne, Andrews admitted that Mary’s death had greatly saddened him, and added, «Brother Kinne, I seem to be having hold upon God with a numb hand» that doesn’t feel anything. In other words, it was as if Andrews had told him, «I’m devoid of feeling, pain has numbed my life, but I still believe the Lord upholds me beyond my feelings of profound sadness.»
John N. Andrews’s words remind me of the apostle Paul’s words: «We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed» (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9). These four antitheses reveal that, although we are fragile clay vessels, the excellence of God’s power acts powerfully in our lives and makes us more than conquerors even in the most adverse circumstances. The thing is, life is not just an event—it’s a process that extends beyond what we are going through today.
Even if the flame of pain has tested our faith to the limit, even if Satan fills the scenery of our lives with dark clouds, the truth is he will never be able to destroy us, because the Lord will hold us by the hand and we will endure as if «seeing Him who is invisible» (Hebrews 11:27).
We might be feeling as if we are alone, or fallen, as if no one upholds us. If that is the case, let us cling to God’s promise: «Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand» (Psalm 37:24). Our numbed soul might not feel it, but the God who holds the universe is still holding our lives.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Angelica Cuate
