(1 minute, 30 seconds to read)
When our third was a curly-headed toddler, and before he transitioned from afternoon naps, Austin enjoyed staying up later in the evenings with his dad and me. After his older siblings had been tucked in for the night, Austin, who was an observant and mellow little guy, delighted in the evening routine of going outside to “do chores” with his daddy.

Perched in the crook of his dad’s right arm, Austin would contentedly survey the interesting world around him as he and his dad made their way around the perimeter of our acreage together, taking care of our animals.

From his secure little roost, this precious one was held safe and secure in his father’s arm. Yet, every night, as he relished his tour around our property, Austin clung to his dad with a double-fisted grip – one of his little hands held firmly to the back of his dad’s shoulder, and with his other hand, he gripped his dad’s shirt in the front.

He hung on, as he was being held on to.

Psalm 63:8 is a picture of the scene that I remember so vividly from 20 years ago…

“My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.”

As he clutched his father, Austin’s young mind most likely believed that his clinging had something to do with staying in his dad’s arm. His holding on meant he wouldn’t fall to the ground. In reality, Austin could have totally let go, and he still would have been held up by his dad. But his clinging gave him a sense of security in the already secure arm of his father.

God is OUR ever-present Father who upholds us with His righteous, omnipotent, right hand. He is the One who upholds us.

Our souls need to cling to him, not so that we don’t fall, but so that we can know His closeness to us; so we can rest secure in the assurance of the protection of our Loving Father.
We hang on, maybe with a double-fisted grip, as we are being held on to by our Father. And He will hold us fast.