Hand-Written Letter From God

We live in an age of instant messages.

Little bites of information and glib remarks are texted to friends and family. Thirty second commercials attempt to capture the attention of consumers. A political candidate knows they only have twenty seconds to convince most people to vote for them.

It’s difficult to bring depth to messages that are so short.

Can you imagine receiving a three-page, hand-written letter in the mail from somebody that you care about?

Their words tucked inside the envelope are a warm and lasting embrace — kept like a hidden treasure. It’s not that their words matter, but that someone took the time to write them.

The Bible contains hand-written letters from God.

Touched by his hand — inspired by the Holy Spirit — they are not just any letters. They are words of pure love and encouragement that rattles the depth of our souls.

In God’s letter to the Philippian church, it includes fiery phrases like “working out” and “pressing on” and “I can do all things” to bellow the embers of a zealous faith. Yet, trickling through like a mountain stream, there are soothing words of grace to help remind us that only through Christ who gives us strength can we do anything pleasing to him.  

I remember watching the movie, The Chronicles of Narnia.  Towards the end of the movie, the four children conclude their stay in Narnia and unexpectedly stumble out of the wardrobe closet and land at the feet of an old professor. The bewildered Peter looks up to him and says, “You wouldn’t believe what happened to us, even if I told you.” With a bemused and knowing glint in his eye, the old professor replies, “Try me!”

I think God is like the old professor. We come to him with uncertainty, doubts, pressures, and problems. We look to him for reassurance, wisdom, and the strength to take one more step of faith. When life feels like we are stumbling out of a wardrobe closet and onto the floor, we peer up into the eyes of Christ and ask, “Do you really know what I am experiencing?”

And Jesus says, “Try me.”

“Trust me when I tell you that I always keep my promises no matter what.”

“I know what you are going through because I have been there myself.”

“It’s going to be okay.”

On New Year’s Eve, I opened a letter from God tucked away at the end of my Bible.

It is a hand-written letter from Jude that is inspired by God to help encourage people like me. It starts with concern that the saints would fervently contend for the faith during a time of societal darkness and closes with this doxology:

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever, Amen.”

Jude 24-25

When we feel isolated and alone — our God keeps us.

When we feel like stumbling — our God holds us firm.

And God doesn’t grumble, nor roll his eyes at our feeble faith, sinful thoughts, and distracted eyes. Instead, he presents us blameless with great joy!

He not only promises his presence but loves our presence.

He is not a God that turns his head away or turns his back on us.

Instead, he leans into us to hear our hearts and promises to have our back.

What a God who loves us!

Renewed by his grace, ignited by his pursuing love for us, this new year can be grasped with great hope and expectation.

Because our God reigns now and forever with all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority. Amen.