🙌It's the Friday Call to Worship!🙌

I sent an overwhelmed email to our immigration lawyer this week. We’ve lived a decade of life and produced a new generation since we’ve visited our family in America - mostly because of government documentation issues. My email felt like an SOS signal… “Have we been forgotten?” “Are we stuck not belonging anywhere forever?”

Not everyone struggles with visa stamps in their passports, but we’ve all some form of SOS from our wildernesses. God’s people were exilec for many years - their history, homes, families and place of worship were ruthlessly destroyed. They cried SOS too. “Zion says, ‘The Lord has abandoned me: The Lord has forgotten me!” (Isaiah 49:14)

God gives immediate perspective: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the child of her womb? Even if these forget, yet I will not forget you. Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16)

A hungry baby only knows to cry and send a signal for his immediate need when he’s hungy. He doesn’t know how much love and care goes into raising him. I cry out with my needs because my ten years of waiting feels too long. I don’t see the big picture either. God isn’t surprised. He didn’t design us to be all-knowing or innately patient. He created us for closeness… to stay close enough to look at His hands.

Jesus’ disciple, Thomas, could not believe that Jesus was resurrected. He was not in the room the day Jesus appeared, so Jesus came back to show him. Jesus got close, extended His arms, and, with lovingkindess, said, “Look at my hands.” (John 20:27)

Look at His hands. They formed us. They hold us. And they bear the scars that set us free. It’s ok for us to be afraid, ask questions, need help and even struggle to believe. It’s worship to get close enough to look at His hands while we do it.

Listen to Seacoast Music’s “Hands Up To Heaven”.