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Held in His Arms 

His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you’re perfectly safe;

His arms fend off all harm. Psalm 91:4 MSG 

 

As an adopted child who lived in foster homes until I was ten, I never recall being held in my father’s arms. Although I met my birth father in my twenties, it was impossible to recapture that “Daddy and his little princess” relationship, for he could not hold or snuggle me enough to fill the deep void of my childhood. It was a struggle for me to understand God as my loving Father or as one who held me. In fact, I am embarrassed to admit that once I told Him, “God, You don’t hug so good.” Pretty nervy for a mere mortal before an Almighty God, but I was being honest and straightforward as I always have been with Him when we talk.

Through the years, I began to see in His Word how He holds us in His arms, how He shelters us and guards us. God’s Word reveals so much and is so descriptive about His loving, protective arms. Specific attributes of His arms are found in various translations where His arms are described as “huge, outstretched,” and in Isaiah, His arms are described as “holy” and “muscled.” Isaiah 52:10 tells us, “God has rolled up his sleeves. All the nations can see His holy, muscled arm. Everyone, from one end of the earth to the other, sees Him at work, doing His salvation work.” (MSG) Isn’t that amazing? The whole earth can see “His holy, muscled arm” and they see “Him at work, doing His salvation work.” God is working! His salvation is worked on the earth.

Can you visualize His arms? Close your eyes for a moment and think of that. How wondrous it is to envision! The entire earth can see His strength and His salvation work. On earth, we think of muscled men with well-defined biceps and shoulders, really built after much time in the gym or in the workplace. But God’s Word describes a working God, one who rolls up His sleeves and works with strong arms that have always been that way. Having been raised on a farm, I can well remember my mom and dad whose sleeves were (and still are) rolled up to work, but to think of an Almighty, Holy God with His sleeves rolled up is an incredible picture.

Psalm 91 is a great favorite and many of us love it dearly for its description of God’s protection for His people. Some translations tell us “His arms fend off all harm,” and that we are perfectly safe under them. A short time ago, we had a local news story air about a little boy being attacked by a pit bull. He was only 5 and ran in terror, but a neighbor woman saw what was happening and rushed to help the child. She threw her arms around him and fell to the ground with him beneath her. The dog continued to attack but now his focus was on the woman who was severely injured on her arms and head. She saved the little boy’s life and prevented any further injuries than had already occurred as she covered him with her arms.

Our God is like that. He repels the attack of the enemy. He wards off the assault by covering us with His arms. Another version says, “He will cover you with His wings. And under His wings you will be safe. He is staunch, dependable and reliable as a safe-covering and a strong wall.” (NLV) A strong wall—think of the Great Wall of China, God’s arms are like that. As long as we stay under His arms, we are perfectly safe. I can rely on His dependable arms always as I come to Him and stay surrounded and protected by Him.

Deuteronomy 33:27 teaches us that God is our shelter, and “His everlasting arms support you.” (God’s Word) Another translation says, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Everlasting, endless, ceaseless, and perpetual are His arms that support you and me. Through the years, I have learned that God does give incredible “hugs.” He hugs me in the arms of a sister in Christ, He hugs me in the tight squeeze around my neck of the little arms of my grandchildren. He hugs me in the bear-like embrace of my son as he says, “I love you, Mom.” He hugs in the rocking hold of my teenage daughters who lay their heads on my shoulder and stand for a moment in peace. He hugs me with His kindness throughout my days.

Most recently I have learned even more about being held in someone’s arms—I have become engaged. This wondrous man of God gives great hugs and holds me even when I cry. I love to turn and find him standing there with his arms open to me with a smile on his face welcoming me to the shelter and love of his arms. He doesn’t mind a big boisterous hug, a snuggle hug, and maybe a tickle too. In the same way, I have run to God’s outstretched arms time and again for every need and occasion, I can run to the arms of my husband to be and find a wondrous example of God’s solace, strength and love.

My God holds me in His arms in the stillness of night when I snuggle up and fall asleep with Him. Sometimes I run frantically to Him, screaming, “Daddy, help!” And He scoops me up in His arms and protects me. Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every promise of God proves true; He protects everyone who runs to Him for help.” How precious He is to me, and how safe I feel knowing I can dash to Him in times of terror or joy or sadness or just companionship.

When I arrive in Heaven, I want to run as fast as I can and be absolutely crushed to His chest, feeling His strong arms around me, hearing His hearty laughter in my ears. I want to feel Him hold me tight and swing me around as we both cry out in breathless, joyous laughter. I so look forward to being held by Him and rejoicing in His mighty arms. There will be enough hugs for all of us in His mighty arms, enough comfort, joy, and peace forever in God’s strong arms. 

Copyright 2004 by Desirée Marrion

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Desirée Marrion is a member of Eastside Foursquare Church in Portland, Oregon, and serves on the worship team. She is a single mom, a grandmother, and an administrative assistant at the Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest. You may reach her at: marrion8955@yahoo.com