Have you heard of the saying ‘my hands are tied’? To say that, means that someone is unable to act freely because something is preventing them from doing so.

Do you ever feel like God's hands are tied?  Do you ask God for things, but He seems to be quiet and appears not to respond to you when you want Him to, or how you want?  

Luke 22:47 shows us in a practical way that even when it appears that God’s hands are tied, He is still in control.

Jesus is praying on the Mount of Olives while three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, have fallen asleep while they were waiting. Jesus wakes them as an angry crowd turns up led by Judas. The mob grab Jesus and restrain Him. Peter, the big burly fisherman, reacts instantly, drawing his sword and striking out at the closest person. It is lucky that Peter was still sleepy after being woken, because as he lashes out, Peter misjudges his aim and only manages to cut off the man’s ear.  

Jesus, whose hands had been tied by the angry mob, reaches out and touches the man’s ear, healing him instantly.  Jesus was not affected by earthly bonds. He fulfilled His purpose to restore the broken man.  

Sometimes we can be praying for an answer, but we don’t believe that God can act or solve our problem. We can get so fixated on the enormity of our situation or finding a solution, that we forget how powerful God is and how He is not bound by human constraints.  God does answer us, but it is often in a different way, or at a different time, to what we are expecting. 

Ask for help from God through prayer and trust that He can take care of the rest. 

Have a great week, 

Regards 

Chaplain Phil