"Hold On"

What do you think of when you hear those words..."Hold On"? I took the time to look up some definitions of this and the following are two that I found and would like to apply:
--to maintain a grasp or grip on something
--to keep from falling or moving; support


Back in October, I took a group of teenaged girls to my husband's home church to attend a concert. We saw the new group, "33 miles". They were awesome! I have lots of musical favorites, but they were added to my list that night. I enjoyed many of their songs, but one that really ministered to me a lot that night was the song entitled, "Hold On". I would encourage whoever is reading this to actually take a listen to it on: http://www.33milesonline.com/ For those of you that won't or don't take the time to, I have included the words to the song below.

"Hold On"

I've been there a thousand times/Felt the rain like a thousand knives and it hurts/I know it hurts/I've been there like a fighter plane/Trying to fly my way thru a hurricane and it's hard/I know it's hard/Don't be afraid/You'll make it thru/Just call out to me/And I'll come running to you/Hold on/Hold on/When the current pulls you under/And your heart beats like thunder/Just give me your hand/And hold on/Hold on/Until the storm is over/And I'll be fighting for you/Just give me your hand/And hold on/I'll give you hope I'll give you faith/And if it's dark I'll light the way for you/For you/By your side until the end/Until you're standing tall again/I'm here/I'll always be here/Always be here/And if the tide sweeps you out to sea/When your strength is gone and it's hard to believe/Chorus x2

As I said, I really encourage you to actually listen to the words of this song. Especially if you are having a hard time of "holding on". We've all been there, haven't we? I am there right now. When life just doesn't seem fair or when things don't make any sense at all, I sometimes feel like letting go. Some of the events that come to my mind when I think of this is when my grandma was dying. She had not been in very good health, and my mom was out visiting my family and me here in Kansas. My dad couldn't make that trip and one day we got a phone call. It was my dad urging my mom to come home, back to Indiana. He was afraid for what was to come. My husband and I took my mom to the airport and all of us just prayed that my grandma would just "hold on" until my mom got there to see her again. It was her last time. I'm sure as my mom held her mom's hand, she was thinking, "just hold on" a little while longer. I am thankful that God allowed her to "hold on" for my mom's sake. That was a difficult time...one that I don't even like to imagine. Another time comes to my mind as well. One night, I got one of the worst phone calls I have ever received in my life. My mom was on the other end letting me know that my best friend's daughter probably wasn't going to make it. I was informed that she was in the hospital and days before, she had just stopped breathing and was without oxygen for too long. Bethany was lying in a hospital bed miles away from me and all I was thinking was, "just hold on", "you will pull through", "I know everything will be alright". It was only a few weeks and Bethany went to be with Jesus. She was only 15. Life is just not fair. It just doesn't make sense. And I know in those final days of her precious life, that her parents prayed that she could "hold on" for them. Almost 3 years have passed since I lost my friend. Bethany's family and my family keep in touch. In fact, we just got to visit with them over Christmas break. Each time I talk to Myca, the words, "hang in there" or "hold on" come to me. I've never been through such a tragedy in losing my daughter so those words may not mean that much. I really do mean those words, but I'm not sure how much comfort they bring. But I know that she and Andy and Griffin are doing just that, "holding on"...the best that they can. And like a verse in the song says, "He will be by your side until you're standing tall again"...I'm not sure if they will ever really stand tall again in this lifetime, but one day, when they see their daughter and sister again...wow! What a day that will be!

I would have given anything to be able to talk to my grandma again. I was pregnant with our second daughter at the time she passed away, so Rachel never knew her great-grandma. The thought of that makes me sad. And I would love to have one more hug from Bethany...God had other plans. It just doesn't make any sense. But I know what does. A friend from the campus ministry at I.U. once told me to "hold on to the hem of Jesus' robe". Now that makes sense to me. Because sometimes in this difficult life, that's the only bit of strength that we have, is to just barely hold on. Like one of the definitions, we want our loved ones "to maintain a grasp or grip"...on life. You see, if we let go, we will be hurt. Just like a little child learning to ride his/her bike, we teach them to "hold on" because it will "keep them from falling". We need to "hold on" to God...because when the current pulls us under, He is there to lift us back up again.

In what ways can you hold on to God better? What are you going through in your life right now that is making you want to just let go? Just "hold on"...God will be by your side until the very end.

"It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him." Deuteronomy 13:4