If there’s anything we learn in a situation like the one we’ve been dealing with for the past couple of months, it’s how much of life we can’t control. When things are going our way, it’s easy to feel as if we are steering the ship of our existence, but the truth is that we are never really at the helm. The God of Creation is the ultimate author of our destinies and the One who holds the world in His hands. I was reminded of this in a poignant way a few years ago when Hannah was traveling with her mom in Europe and I was home taking care of the kids. As you may know, my son Cohen has severe epilepsy that has taken its toll on his cognitive development. Unfortunately, a few days into my wife’s trip, he had a bad seizure, and we ended up at the hospital. Though there is always a period of recovery after one of these bouts, this time, it was really severe. For hours, my son was twitchy, had crossed eyes, and couldn’t communicate at all, and while I prayed that he would just snap out of it, it only seemed to get worse. As I sat by his side, I talked to him and tried playing his favorite song, hoping it would reach him, but not even that worked. When I had finally come to the end of my own efforts, all I could do was lay him in God’s hands. I started singing the old hymn, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” but I changed the words to “He’s got my son in His Hands,” and though it’s not humanly explainable, a wave of peace washed over me, and my need for clarity was replaced by a peaceful and childlike trust.

My friend, no matter what you’re dealing with today, God’s got it. He’s got my son, He’s got me, and He’s got you in His Hands, and whether you’re sick, well, scared or relaxed, He is still in control! Not only that, He is always good, and everything He does is good. When you look through a lens of uncertainty, your eyes behold only problems, but when you elevate your perspective, gaze at Jesus, and view your situation through the filter of His great grace, your heart is transformed. While you may not be able to change what’s happening around you, you can change what’s happening in you, and as you cling to the Lord’s steady Hand, He takes your troubles and trades them for His glorious joy!