His hand is stretched out still

I wonder what message the prophet Isaiah was trying to emphasize when he said, “…for all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still?”

It must have been awfully important as he repeats it again and again (Isaiah 5:25, 9:12, 9:17, 9:21 and 10:4). We recently studied these verses in our Sunday school class and it has given me cause to ponder.

As I read these verses, I think about the justice and mercy of a loving God. The recurrent theme that I see is that no matter where I am in my life, His hand is stretched out still.

I have a tendency at times to feel that of all the people in this world, with all my faults, that I am not ‘worthy’ of His mercy. Do you ever feel that way too? Well, the fact is that maybe we aren’t ‘worthy’ of His mercy but He freely gives it none-the-less. No matter how we feel…His arm is stretched out still. No matter what we’ve done…His arm is stretched out still.

No matter who we are, no matter what we’ve done, no matter how we act, no matter what we believe, the beautiful gift of His mercy is given freely…no matter what!

One of my favorite hymns sums up my feelings quite nicely:

“I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.

I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,

That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died. …

I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love, and devotion can I forget?

No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.” (LDS Hymns, 1985, no. 193)

I think this is, at least in part, what Isaiah was trying to teach us.

We are never too far from His redeeming love. So when you find yourself discouraged, no matter where you are in life, you can always turn to His outstretched hand.

There is always hope in Christ!