“I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
(John 10:28-29)
At the height of Solomon’s reign, Jerusalem was a picture of glory, grandeur, and joy that left the Queen of Sheba awestruck. Yet centuries later that same city lay in ruins. Lamentations gives voice to the anguish: “My eyes do fail with tears… my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people” (Lamentations 2:11).
The devastation of Jerusalem became a test of faith for the weeping prophet who was left wondering whether God had turned against him. “I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath” (Lamentations 3:1). His cries echo the despair many believers feel in seasons of trial—when affliction is prolonged, when hope seems buried beneath sorrow, and when God feels far away.
Yet the laments do not end in despair. Through his grief, the prophet remembers the anchor of his soul: “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21–23).
In our darkest night, God does not abandon us. “He will not abandon us who long for him, since he redeemed those who were careless about him.”[1] His mercies are not strained, His faithfulness does not fail. If we are truly His, then our place in His hand is secure. “They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28). That hand holds us when we stumble, lifts us when we fall, and steadies us when we are faint.
Friends may disappoint us. Even our own hearts may fail. But the love of God endures. He has pledged Himself to His people. Before the foundation of the world, He chose us. In time, He redeemed us. And now, He keeps us by His power through faith (1 Peter 1:5).
When doubt creeps in and the enemy whispers lies, we return to the truth: “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save” (Zephaniah 3:17). Our standing with Him does not rest on our strength but on Christ’s intercession, for the Son of God has prayed for us, that our faith would not fail (Luke 22:32). And the Father always hears Him (John 11:42).
So take heart, weary one. He will finish what He began (Philippians 1:6). He will not let go.
Contemplations:
- My Place Is Secure. There are days when I feel like a failure. My heart accuses me. But Jesus said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John 10:28). I’m grateful that my salvation isn’t anchored in my grip on Him, but His grip on me.
- Remembering in the Darkness. When sorrow presses in, I must do as the prophet did and call to mind what is true. “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:22). I may not understand the pain, but I know His compassions have not failed.
- God Is With Me Always. Even in the silence, He is near. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee… I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10). Lord, give me wisdom and grace to trust Your nearness more than my feelings.
- Christ Prays for Me. When my faith wavers, I remember that Christ intercedes for me. “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:32). Thank you, Father, that I am not upheld by my prayers, but by Christ’s prayers for me.
Prayer
[Supplication to the Almighty God]
Faithful and Almighty God, my soul leans upon Your promises, for I know You hold me in hands that cannot fail. “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28). Lord, I believe Your Word; help my unbelief.
When sorrows surround me, when fears arise without warning, when disappointment and loss cut deep, I ask You, Lord, to uphold me. Let me not be shaken by what I see but rather trust in what You have spoken. Strengthen me to walk by faith and not by sight. Keep me from judging Your love by my circumstances. And teach me to see Your goodness even when my way is dark.
I confess that I am weak. My faith falters, my affections waver, my thoughts are restless. But You, O Lord, are steadfast. You have loved me with an everlasting love. You have set Your seal upon me. You have promised that nothing shall separate me from Your love—not tribulation, not distress, not death, not even my sin, for You have covered me in the righteousness of Christ.
So Lord, I plead with You to guard me by Your Spirit. Keep my feet from slipping. When doubts arise, speak truth to my heart. When I am tempted, provide the way of escape. When I fall, lift me again. You have said that none shall pluck me from Your hand; let me rest in that unshakable security.
Sustain me in the long nights when answers are hidden. Let me not grow weary in trusting You. May Your Spirit daily remind me of Christ’s intercession, that I may be sure You will never abandon the work of Your hands.
And if You lead me through sorrow, help me echo the prophet’s words: “Great is Thy faithfulness.” Teach me to trust not in my strength but in Your mercy. Lead me, Father, not in the path of ease but in the way that conforms me more fully to the image of Your Son.
I ask all of this not because I am worthy, but because Jesus is worthy. He is my Advocate, my Righteousness, my Hope. Hear me for His sake, O God. Preserve me by Your power. Keep me close to You until the day I see Your face.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further References for John 10:28–29
Deuteronomy 31:6–8; Psalm 37:17, 24; 46:1–2; 63:8; 145:14; Isaiah 12:2; 40:29–31; 41:13–14; 43:1; Romans 8:28–31; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Ephesians 1:3–5; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:3–6.
[1] Saint Augustine, Expositions of the Psalms 73–98, ed. John E. Rotelle, trans. Maria Boulding, vol. 18, The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2002), 466.
