This past weekend I attended a worship night at our church. Of everything we do at church, worship nights are one of my favorite things. I came early so I could sit in a row close to the front and on the outside of the aisle, because of, well, short girl problems. If I am farther in the row and someone tall sits in front of me I may as well have saved myself the time of coming early.

As worship began and we were singing in earnest a father with his son nestled in his arms slipped into the row ahead of me. It was obvious the young boy, who was well past toddlerhood, was tired. I noticed when his eyelids gently shut and he snuggled deeper into his father’s arms. Soon he was sound asleep and even the enthusiastic singing all around him did not wake him up.

I watched as the father continued to hold his child tightly while he was singing praises to God. He held him during our entire worship service–sometimes when he was standing, and sometimes when he was sitting. But through it all he continued to lovingly hold him in his arms.

As I watched the son put his arms around his father’s neck when he finally stirred, it hit me that he had a lot of trust in his dad. I don’t think he was concerned about falling, or being abandoned while he slept, or any other myriad of things that a person can think about when they put themselves in someone else’s hands. He just cuddled up to his dad and slept, and all was right with his world.

Isn’t that the way it should be with our heavenly father? We know our father loves us and we should be able to trust that he has us when we are weary and tired. He will hold onto us and not let us slip from his grip. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29). In 1 Peter 5:7, it says “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (NLT)

For some reason, seeing the young boy and his father reminded me that we have a heavenly Father that cares about us and when we are tired and weary, we can trust him to hold us in his arms and not let us fall. Until we take our last breath we can trust God to be holding our hand. What a beautiful reassurance I have when I read Isaiah 46:4 “I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you” I am grateful for a father’s love and the knowledge that he will not let me go.