Jesus Hold My Hand

As I travel through this pilgrim land there is a friend who walks with me
Leads me safely through the sinking sand, it is the Christ of Calvary.
This would be my prayer dear Lord each day to help me do the best I can
For I need Thy light to guide me day and night. Blessed Jesus hold my hand.

Chorus
Jesus hold my hand. I need thee every hour. Through this pilgrim land, protect me by thy power.
Hear my feeble plea. O Lord look down on me. When I kneel in prayer, I hope to meet you there
Blessed Jesus hold my hand.

Let me travel in the light divine that I may see the blessed way
Keep me that I may be wholly Thine and sing redemption’s song some day
I will be a soldier brave and true and ever firmly take a stand
As I onward go and daily meet the foe Blessed Jesus hold my hand.

When I wander thru the valley dim toward the setting of the sun.
Lead me safely to a land of rest if I a crown of life have won.
I have put my faith in thee, dear Lord, that I may reach the golden strand.
There’s no other friend on whom I can depend, Blessed Jesus, Hold my hand.

This particular song is another “Red-back” hymnal favorite of mine.  The tempo of the song combined with the different parts that are sung on the chorus has made this one of my all time favorites to sing.  I also like the simple request in this song for Jesus to “hold my hand” because it communicates a special reliance on the Lord for certain needs in our life.  The phrase “holding hands” may bring up a variety of thoughts and images to your mind when you hear it.  I think there are several basic needs we have that are illustrated in the act of holding someone’s hand:

• The need for leadership – As a father with small children, there have been many times that my kids have asked me to hold their hand as we were walking through an unknown place.  They place their trust in me that I know what I am doing, and where I am going by the simple act of holding my hand.  At times, however, they will become distracted by things they see, and will struggle against me or will want to let go of my hand.  The same can be true with us and our relationship with the Lord.  His desire is to lead us and direct our steps.  Like children sometimes, we become distracted by other earthly things, and therefore struggle between what we want, and where His leadership wants to take us.  Psalm 5:8 says “Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make straight your way before me.”

• The need for comfort – Sometimes when someone is facing a tough time (surgery, potentially bad news from a doctor, etc.), they will ask their spouse or a friend to hold their hand.  In this case, the holding of hands provides that person with comfort.  It does not fix their problem, nor is it a magic “cure-all.”   What it does do is tell the person that you care for them and you will be there for them.  In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul wrote “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

• The need for help – All of us at points in our lives have needed a helping hand.  Whether is was an encouraging word, financial support, or physical help, we have all had the need to be helped.  Because of pride, it may be difficult to ask for help from friends or loved ones.  We also might find it difficult to ask God to help us in certain areas sometimes.  However, Psalm 118:7 reminds us that “The Lord is with me.  He is my helper.”  The Lord is there to help us, and we should be confident enough to go to Him and trust Him to provide that help.

Finally, there is a phrase in the hymn that I wanted to comment on – “When I kneel in prayer, I hope to meet you there” –  It is rare that I disagree with the words in hymns.  Some might cause me to think, or take me awhile to chew on, but I rarely disagree with something that is written in them.  However, I really don’t like the phrase that says “When I kneel in prayer, I hope to meet you there” because I believe that God meets us when we prayer.  We don’t have to “hope” or wonder if He is with us and if He is listening.  We can be confident of that fact.  We might not feel like He is there or listening all the time, but our feelings don’t change the truth of Scripture.  God is omnipresent.  He is with us when we pray, when we wake up, while we are at work or at home resting.  I like what the Bible says in Psalm 139 – notice the references to God’s hands:

“O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

There is another old hymn that is entitled “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand.”  That hymn is a challenge to us to trust Him.  Trust His leadership.  Trust that He will comfort us in times of distress.  Trust that He will help us in times of need.  I hope you can pray with me, in child-like faith and in confidence, “Jesus, hold my hand.”