And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17 ESV) 

The golden leaves blanketed the ground as the echo of my daughter’s voice carried through the woods exclaiming she found the perfect leaf for her collection. These are the moments I prayed for. She runs to me and lays a red heart-shaped leaf in my hand. As I look at it, I’m reminded of all we have walked through the past several years with my daughter’s medical journey. Many days seem out of control but in this moment, I’m reminded how true the words are Paul writes in Colossians 1:17, “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” 

Sometimes the reality of parenting a child who is medically complex brings me to my knees in fear. In these moments, I must remember that in Jesus all things hold together. Just as He created the heart-shaped leaf I was holding in my hand, He made my daughter’s heart too and by His grace gave her a new heart. 

I’m reminded that all things exist because of Jesus, and I can trust her life in His hands. 

Friends, when our fear wants to try and take control of our emotions, we can remember that He holds all things together when the unexpected occurs. The same God who is holding the universe together is holding you, too. 

I’m not sure what your reality looks like today – the worries that keep you up at night, the phone call you are dreading to make or receive, or the day-to-day tasks of trying in your own strength to control your surroundings in hopes of alleviating your anxieties. But one thing I have learned is that Jesus holding all things together is a true reality and something we can rest in. Even before we knew we needed Him, He was taking care of us, dying on the cross, and creating a way for us to be with Him even before we took our first breath. 

Is there any area in your life that you need to relinquish into the hands and control of God? Do you need to remember that in Jesus ALL things hold together – even those things that are troubling you today? 

By Lauren Hill 

Lauren attends IBC-Georgetown Campus. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Adam, and is the mother of Story and Violet.