A toddler and his father were walking down a path on a beautiful spring day. The little child skipped along, enthralled by the flowers starting to bloom along the way. The path was bright and level, and before long the child moved ahead of his father, confident and without worry. But then the path before him took a sharp turn and his confidence quickly faded. The trees overhanging the path grew close together, forming a tunnel. The light of the sun was blocked out and with every step the tunnel got darker and darker. The level ground gave way to rocks and roots, with the pathway taking a steep drop downward. All of sudden, the frightened little child ran back to his father shouting, "Daddy, Daddy, hold my hand!"
Like this little child, we're heading down an uncertain pathway. Where is the corona virus pandemic going? When will it die out so that we can get back to a normal life? The hope and brightness of spring has become dark and foreboding. No one knows the answers to these questions. The future is unknown and unsettled. But thankfully, we are not alone in our "social distancing." There is One who is near to us every moment of every day. One who walks with us and beside us. One who takes our hand and calms our fears. "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you" (Isaiah 41:13).
We may not see the light at the end of the tunnel but we have a God who takes us by the hand and leads us through the uncertainty. We can walk confidently into the unknown, for our Heavenly Father holds us tightly in His grasp. As Jesus said in John 10:27-29: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." Hold onto the One who is holding onto you, listening for the voice of Jesus as you follow him.
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).