Hold Together

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Colossians 1:15-20

We recite that verse in our church every Sunday morning.  It's a hefty theological treatise about who Christ is, with lots of nice, churchy words scattered throughout. 

But did you see that little phrase tucked in verse 17?  Every Sunday morning I read it and sigh a very deep sigh:

...and in him all things hold together.

All things hold together.  Yes.  They do.

I'm sure a scholar of Scripture could expound on the theology of that verse for you in ways I cannot.  Maybe "all things hold together" is speaking on the cosmic level, or the molecular one, about Christ's place as holder-together of the very fabric of the universe.

But it isn't theology I'm thinking when my child comes home from school broken-hearted or my daughter pours my moisturizer on the bed.  Or my friend's husband leaves.  Or one son tells me he hates his brother, or the dog throws up on the carpet.  Or I feel like I'm standing at the outskirts of my own sanity, ready to walk away.  Or Hubs is late for dinner or the garage door won't open or another young soldier dies in the desert.  Or I've blown it, big-time, bigger than ever before, and I'm not sure where to go from here. 

In him all things hold together.

When I'm holding on by a thread, or not even holding on at all, in Him there's rhyme for the reason, and footing on the slipperiest slope.  I can't tell you how, or why, but it's right there in my heart--right there where all the pieces feel ready to fly apart. 

Where things are spinning.

Where they hurt.

Right there at there very core of it all, something--some-One--holds me together and gently whispers the things a Father says. 

Yes, He holds together the cosmos and the Church and the vast arc of human history, but He also holds together the heart of His messed-up child. 

No wonder I sigh.

Comments

[Ellen B.]

I'm sighing with you. I have been so blessed by Colossians! Thanks for this post.

[Faerylandmom]

Amen. God seems to be hammering this home in my life too. That He's not just there for the big things...that he really does care when "the dog throws up on the carpet."

Thanks for sharing.

[Melissa]

Amen. If not for Him holding me together I would be a much huger mess than I am. I am still a mess, but a Beautiful Mess under construction. At least in His eyes. :)

[Leslie]

I needed that so much. Thank you!

[Susan]

Between you post and Beth Moore's Red Bird Self-Condemnation post over at LPM, I'm feeling pretty convicted this morning!

[Girl Gone Wild]

{....weepy sigh....}

[Angie @ Many Little Blessings]

How very true!!! Thank you for your reflection this morning -- it was a great way to start the day.

[Heth]

Amen.

[Michelle]

What a wonderful nugget of truth to head into the weekend with. He truly is the glue that holds it all together. Have a wonderful, blessed weekend.

[Clemntine]

You hit me where I'm livin', Sister! Thanks for the timely reminder of timeless Truth. Be blessed.

[momrn2]

Amen and Amen!! Saying a prayer for you friend!!

[Amy]

Just what I needed this morning. God is our glue; he makes us whole and keeps every little ounce of us together even when in our minds it is about to blow into a million pieces. Thanks for the post, Shannon. Have a blessed weekend.

[Melanie]

Unfortunately for me I tend to forget that He holds all things together until everything has completely fallen apart. I need to remember to praise Him while the pieces fit intead of always asking Him to put them back together.
Great post, Shannon!

[cindy]

Thanks for sharing this. I'm going to print it out and tape it to the inside of my kitchen cupboard. Then, I will be able to see it at the exact next moment I need it most.

[Antique Mommy]

It is true. I don't claim to understand it, but I know it.

[maria]

I have always had a relgion. That is not to say I've always been religous. I have been good, and moral and kind to anyone I came across, but sometimes my belief in a "higher power", wanes, to say the least.

Thank You for continually reminding me if I look for it, I can find it, and may it bring me half the peace it brings you.

[Mrs. Dub]

Thank heavens for Him! (Is that redundant?)

Faith, hope and prayer are the best mommy tools out there. And I'm a big fan of Tide-to-go and sippy cups so that says a lot.

[Jana]

A lovely post. Thanks for sharing these thoughts; it's good to be reminded that Christ holds it all in His hands.

[Lori - Queen of Dirty Laundry]

What a blessing today! Thanks for putting those words down and sharing them.

[Barbara]

A beautiful blessing indeed. Thank you for sharing and helping all of us walk a little firmer in His grace. Your blog started this amazing journey I'm on and I am praying for you.

[Gretchen Hanna]

That's what faith is, honey. Not understanding it all, but knowing it's all held together by Him. I can't wait for Him to explain it all when I go "home". Thanks for the wonderful post.

[Trixie]

Thank you for putting that so eloquently. You ARE are writer, indeed.

I'm going to make a note of that portion of the verse in the front of my bible right now!

Trixie

[Deena]

That was gorgeous.

Thank you.

[Susanne]

Praise God! When I'm hurting it's not the theological expounding my heart needs. But it is this. To know this. Thank you Shannon!

[Sincerely Anna]

I've thought about these verses all day. Just thought I'd come back to leave a comment. We're going through a tough time right now. Thanks for the encouragement through your blog.

[Amy]

Beautiful!

[oh amanda]

Wonderful post! I agree w/what you said: He holds together every fabric of the universe.

Have you heard Louie Giglio's sermon from the "How Great is Our God" Tour? It's about this same thing: God the star-breather knows each one of our cells. He holds EVERYTHING together.

https://www.268store.com/268store.html

[Kelley]

Thank you, Shannon. Just what my heart needed to hear today. I know it's always true, but especially today for me - my Mom died in February, and today would've been her 58th birthday. Today He's busy holding me together, quite literally.

[Deanna]

I can't even begin to tell yout he ways in which I needed to hear that! You have truely blessed me with your thoughts. thank you!

[katherine@raisingfive]

That is one of the most comforting scriptures of all. *Sigh* I'm usually tempted to think "In Katherine all things hold together" - until they fall apart, and I realize again my desperate need for the Rock that is higher than I. This was beautiful, Shannon. Beautiful.

[Trina]

**sigh**
What a sweet breath of fresh air. I know I could not survive otherwise.

[Amanda]

You put into words that which I find so difficult to say. Thank you :)

[Jenn]

Thanks for that post.

PS: I just found an actual rock in my dryer :)

[:: Suzanne ::]

My cousin recently posted a post that ties in so nicely with this one. Over at she writes about flinging ourselves on the Lord. Which seems like a reasonable thing to do, as He alone holds it all together.

Thanks for sharing.

[Gego]

When I was a small child, I overheard my Grandmother talking to my Mother. She said, "When they are little, they will step on your toes. When they are grown, they will step on your heart. Only Our Father can repair the damages of today and the damages of tomorrow." Now, I have no idea as to what or when or why my Grandmother said that. Or, at that time in my young life, why it was important for me to remember, but I did. I have learned to be patient and be strong (OH, how I hate those lessons and still struggle so). I have learned that to everything there is a season and the understanding comes with the sowing and the reaping. Not in MY time but in HIS. There is no perfection, for that gift was bestowed upon the Son. As is shown here on your blog, no matter what the trials and tribulations, if you reach out, there are those to support and love you. I love you, Gego

[Jenileigh]

I have just come across your blog. I am enjoying it immensely. This was such a blessed reminder. I'm adding you to my blog roll.

[Jennifer]

What a great post! I needed to hear this today and am adding this to my verses to memorize. Thank you for sharing this...

[GiBee]

What a beautiful post, Shannon...

[dcrmom]

Shannon, that's a BEAUTIFUL post. Thanks for being so REAL.