It was a brisk December night, and I was simply enjoying an evening of tea and fellowship with all of the other ladies in the room. Everything was going just fine, but when tea and dinner were over, the violinist began to play. And at that moment, I was taken entirely out of the room and into a moment of reflection and thanksgiving.

For about a year now, the song “In Christ Alone” has held a very special place in my heart. I can’t quite pinpoint when it first struck a chord in me, but every time I hear it, I just begin to bawl. So I did my best to hold back my joyful tears, but then these words were sung by the vocalist:

“No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand.”

And almost every woman at my table was in tears. It was a beautiful reminder for all of us…

How often we forget that God is in control. God is the one who holds the leash over death and hell. He alone has the power to condemn us, yet He sent forth His Son so that we could spend eternity with Him. And do you know what that means? It means that no pain, no heartbreak, no illness, no betrayal and no evil in this world can EVER pluck you from God’s hands. Romans 8:38-39 tells us, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

AMEN.

And…here’s my favorite rendition, featuring Allison Krauss with Keith & Kristyn Getty. I couldn’t find it on YouTube, but it’s worth the 99 cents! (It’s also on iTunes and Spotify.) Enjoy, my friends.

Jen

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