During my college days, a few buddies and I were hiking somewhere in a beautiful gorge when we detoured over a ravine by walking across a fallen tree. I was halfway across the thing when I froze up and got tottery. The ground seemed as if it was a mile below me. I recall flailing my arms like a windmill and shouting, “I’ve lost my nerve!” The friend in front of me instantly reached out and took hold of my hand. I could have pulled us both off the log, but somehow the momentary touch of my friend’s hand gave stability. I regained my balance and made it safely to the other side.

I’ve thought of that many times when I’ve gotten weak-kneed over other chasms, and it’s the touch of a Friend’s hand that has steadied me. The same is true for the heroes of Scripture. When Peter sank in alarm trying to walk across the choppy waters of Galilee, Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him, saying, “You of little faith . . . why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).

Many of the Psalms speak of the nearness of God’s hand:

• “I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8).
• “Your right hand sustains me” (Psalm 18:35).
• “I cling to you; your right hand upholds me” (Psalm 63:8).
• “Your hand is strong” (Psalm 89:13).
• “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11).

Robert J. Morgan, Worry Less, Live More: God’s Prescription for a Better Life (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2017).

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Sessions include:

The Practice of Rejoicing

The Practice of Gentleness

The Practice of Nearness

The Practice of Prayer

The Practice of Thanksgiving

The Practice of Thinking

The Practice of Discipleship

The Practice of Peace