Take a look at your hand. Right now, just lift your hand up and look at it. All your fingers, thumb, and knuckles. Your hand is an incredible creation. In an allegorical manner of speaking, your hand was designed by God to be a Peace Hand with strength, control, and agility similarly to your physical hand.

Hands are Handy

Here are some things your physical hand can easily do:

• Powerfully press something into place,
• Refine details of a project,
• Do delicate work and adjustments,
• Warmly and tenderly show love,
• Grab firmly and hold on,
• Twist and turn using hinges and joints as needed,
• Bring assurance with a kind pat on the back,
• Communicate with sign language and gestures,
• Extend peace (Peace Hand),
• Fold in respect and prayer to the living God,
• . . . And a good handshake is still valued all around the world!

 

So, to say your hand is one of your best features is almost an understatement. It’s a terrible loss to have impaired function of your hand – or to lose your hand completely.

Your Hand Can Be A Reminder Of Peace

Your hand can be a fabulous reminder of a gift God has given you – personal peace. So, we call it The Peace Hand. Your hand is always with you. But what about peace? Is peace always with you? Maybe – maybe not. How can you use your hand to remember to enjoy peace more often?

We just stated your hand is a reminder of peace. Let’s refine that idea. God’s shares His peace with you so it becomes your own personal peace. And just like all gifts you receive, you need to:

1. Pick it up.
2. Unwrap it.
3. Eagerly peek inside.
4. Take out the contents.
5. Identify the contents.
6. Reflect on why the gift is special by remembering the giver.
7. Say, “thank you!”

 

Your Hand’s Fingers

Do you remember some of the nursery rhymes and songs you learned long ago? One little song I remember names every finger. It’s purpose is to teach toddlers about their fingers and hand. I think it goes something like this. A question is posed, and then the answer is given. It starts with your thumb. Hide it behind your back with all your fingers until the question is asked.

QUESTION: Tom Thumb, Tom Thumb. Where are you?

As you answer, you pull your hand from behind your back and make the featured finger bow several times.

ANSWER: Here I am. Here I am. How do you do?

Then the song takes you through all the fingers in the very same way. Here are all the fun finger names:

1. Tom Thumb.
2. Peter Pointer.
3. Toby Tall.
4. Reuben Ring.
5. Tiny Tim.

 

How The Peace Hand Reminds

Since your hand is with always with you, a peace reminder is always with you, too. Here’s how.

Just as we named each digit (finger) in the nursery song, we name each finger for reclaiming your personal peace from God. Take a look at this image and the questions on each finger. Then we’ll explore each in depth.

 

Five Questions Of The Peace Hand

 

1. Is God able?

This is the question you affiliate with your little finger – “Tiny Tim.”  You ask yourself some questions. Then you need to answer them honestly.

• In my current situation, is God able to bring about His good?
• Am I willing to let His good look differently than I had in mind?
• Does God have solutions for my situation?
• Can I truly expect His interventions and help?
• Is His strength and provision enough?
• What about His miracles and promises? Do they actually work?

 

2. Does God know?

This is the question you connect with your number four finger – “Reuben Ring.” It’s important and comforting that a loving God knows and deeply cares about each individual life circumstance. Still, you must ask more questions to get answers:

• Is God aware of my suffering?
• Can He see me struggling?
• Can He see I’m at my wits end, and I don’t know what to do next or where to turn?
• What does it matter that He sees what I cannot?

 

3. Does God care?

Get “Toby Tall” – your tall middle finger ready for a question. Now, this question will help you define your theology a bit more. What do you really believe about God and you? More “defining questions” to reveal “defining answers” that shape your relationship with God. Here we go.

• If God can see and knows what is going on – and if He is able – why is it not changing?
• Does God even care about what is going on in my life?
• Are the details of my world important to Him?
• Am I truly valuable to God?
• What does that look like from God’s perspective?

 

4. Can I trust God?

This question gets paired with your “Peter Pointer” finger. He’s a pretty main guy on your hand . . . and this is a pretty main question you must come to terms with if you will ever enjoy God’s gift of personal peace. More questions for you to answer:

• There have been so many others I thought I could trust, and . . . . well. . . . it didn’t turn out very good. How do I know I can really trust God to do good things in my life?
• Do I believe His promises in Scripture are for me?
• Am I willing to take those words He spoke and apply them to the very situation I’m in now?
• Do I choose – here and now – to trust God?
• Is it possible God could screw my life up?

 

5. Am I obeying?

Here is your “Tom Thumb” question. If you didn’t have a thumb, you’d lose your grip pretty quickly. Same for this thumb question. If you don’t have this one answered, you will lose your grip in life. Why? Because obedience must follow faith, and faith always follows Jesus if you want personal peace. Here are a few more excellent questions you need to answer:

• Will I obey God even if I can’t see and don’t understand?
• To the best of my understanding and ability, am I willingly obeying God?
• Have I done all I know to ensure I am pleasing God in my thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions?
• Is it more important to me to please Jesus Christ than to have life look the way I wanted?

 

How Did You Do With Your Peace Hand Questions?

As you wrestle through these 5 questions – and the specific questions under each of the 5 questions, there are some outcomes you can guarantee.

First, If you choose to answer each of the 5 questions by faith with a “yes,” you can pick up God’s peace. Actually picture yourself picking up the gift in your mind. It is wrapped with a bow – sitting there with your name written on it. Jesus secured your peace at a high price. It’s yours! Believe it. TAKE IT!

Next, peace is not a feeling. It is a “chosen condition” that can be present in good times and bad. God gives peace to His children, but only some pick up the gift. You choose whether you will pick up God’s peace – or not. Why not make it personal?

What Does Jesus Say About Peace?

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jn. 14:27

Did you hear that? Jesus is not only addressing your personal peace. He is also addressing the state of your heart. Jesus does not want your heart to be troubled. And He is addressing your enemy – fear. He guarantees you can overcome it!

Application Thoughts and Questions

If peace is gone from your heart, how do you get it back? Go back to your 5 fingers. You can always remember these questions if you assign one to each finger. Then, any time, anywhere – night or day – ask yourself the 5 questions.

1. Is God able?
2. Does God know?
3. Does God care?
4. Can I trust God?
5. Am I obeying?

Why not be an “overcomer?” All you have to do is pick up your peace gift from God. Why not have a receptive heart? Here’s how to claim your gift of personal peace:

1. Pick it up.
2. Unwrap it.
3. Eagerly peek inside.
4. Take out the contents.
5. Identify the contents.
6. Reflect on why the gift is special by remembering the Giver.
7. Say, “thank you!” to God for His unspeakable gift. (2 Cor. 9:15; Phil. 4:7)

 

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jn. 14:27

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This post is a partial excerpt from my book Reach Back: Intentionally Reaching Back To God.

I encourage you to purchase this study book and read more about peace. You will also explore topics like:

• Pausing in life.
• How to handle feelings.
• Loneliness.
• Boundaries.
• Forgiveness.
• Gratitude.
• And more.

 

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* The Peace Hand is adapted from: McDougall, Colin. Models for Disciple-Makers. Robbinsville: Eternal Truth Ministries, 2002. Print.