The song “He Will Hold Me Fast” by Keith and Kristyn Getty has been of much comfort to me over the last few months. In times of hardship, both in our world and personally in my life, I have often only successfully found hope in the small but powerful words, “He will hold me fast.” When I once again watch my heart get pulled away by the distractions offered in this life, I lift up the only prayer I can seem to muster during this time, “Jesus, hold me fast.” When the only thing I am sure of in this life is that of my wandering heart, I cling to His promise in Psalm 139 8-10 “If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” When I consistently fall short, and I fear that the security of my faith is at stake, His grace ushers me to rest in the one thing that will never fall short: the faithfulness of the Lord. This life is not my own. It’s not mine to keep. It’s not mine to lose. He will hold me fast. Paul David Tripp says it like this, “The One who created and controls the world, the One who is the ultimate definition of what is loving, true, and good, and the One who alone has the power to finally defeat sin has chosen, because of his grace, to wrap his arms of faithful love and protection around you, and he will not let you go.” My hope is no longer found in my willingness to endure, but only in the fact that I have communion with the only One who will never cease in his work of grace. When the darkness refuses to lift, when the pain refuses to cease, and when the light seems too far off; He will hold me fast.

Lamentations 3:21-23 “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”