“My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” — Psalm 63:8 (NIV)
THE JOURNEY
My fondest (and most terrifying) memory from childhood is the roller skating rink. It was a neon-lit, disco-thumping arena of doom for a clumsy seven-year-old.
I remember standing on the carpeted edge, staring at the polished wood floor. To me, it looked like a sheet of ice. Every time I tried to step out on my own, my legs wobbled, my wheels slipped, and I ended up bruised on the floor. I wanted to skate, but I lacked the balance.
Then, my dad would skate over. He was good—smooth, confident, steady. He would glide up to the rail where I was clinging for dear life and extend his hand.
“Grab on,” he’d say.
Here was the dynamic: I had to let go of the safe rail and grab his hand. That was my part. I had to cling to him. I had to decide that he was safer than the wall.
As long as I wrapped my small fingers around his thumb and pressed my side against his leg, I didn’t fall. When I stumbled, his arm—which was infinitely stronger than my legs—would stiffen and hold me up. I was skating, but he was doing the stabilizing.
But occasionally, I would get cocky. I would think, I got this. I would let go of his hand to try a spin. And instantly—bam—I was on the floor.
I realized that my stability was entirely dependent on my proximity. I loved my dad by holding on to him; I trusted him to be my balance. He loved me back by refusing to let me fall, adjusting his speed to mine, and using his strength to compensate for my weakness.
Heart of the Matter
In Psalm 63, King David uses a powerful Hebrew word for “clings”—dabaq. It translates literally to “stick like glue.”
David is saying: “Lord, I am sticking myself to You. I am refusing to let go.”
This is how we “love God” in the midst of a chaotic world. We recognize that on our own, we are wobbly. We recognize that the world is slippery. So, we choose to glue ourselves to Him through prayer, through scripture, and through constant focus. We grab His hand.
And the reciprocity? The verse continues: “Your right hand upholds me.”
When you do the clinging, God does the upholding. You provide the grip; He provides the strength. You provide the trust; He provides the stability.
He loves you back by ensuring that as long as you are holding His hand, you will not be swept away by the current. He becomes the steady force that keeps you standing when everyone else is falling.
Faith in Action
Today, practice the spiritual discipline of dabaq (sticking like glue).
The Challenge: Throughout the day, whenever you feel a “wobble” (anxiety, anger, temptation), stop immediately. Visualize yourself at the roller rink. Picture yourself reaching out and grabbing Jesus’ hand with both of yours, squeezing tight. Say out loud (or in your mind): “I am gluing myself to You right now. You are my balance.”
Feel the relief of knowing you don’t have to keep yourself upright; you just have to keep yourself attached.
Prayer for the Day
Lord, the world feels slippery today. I confess that I often let go of Your hand because I think I can skate on my own. But I always stumble. Today, I choose to love You by clinging to You. My soul sticks to You like glue. I will not let go. Thank You for loving me back by upholding me. Thank You that Your right hand is stronger than my problems. I am safe in Your grip. Amen.
LOVE Note
“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” — Martin Luther
