Imagine being a child, walking throughout the grocery store with your parent, and something catches your eye—maybe a toy or a magazine. Maybe you see that crazy leprechaun on your favorite cereal. Distracted for a moment, you realize your parent is gone. They may only be in the next aisle, but it appears you are alone. You holler…you cry…your heart starts to race….
When my husband was deployed, my child was very clingy. I often told her to “hold my pocket.” She would reach up and push her little hand snug into the front pocket of my jeans. Insecurity vanished and she’d chatter happily as we walked.
Obedience brings security.
The security in knowing I was always there came from her acting in obedience. With her hand in my pocket, she could relax in the reassurance we would not be separated.
Security is a side effect of living obediently. In Deuteronomy God commanded the Israelites to obey (hold his pocket) and walk in step with his commandments (Deut. 5:33). Security in knowing they would prosper in the land that they would possess was their reward.
Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
~ Deuteronomy 5:33
However, when I think of the book of Judges I can’t help but think of all the times the Israelites let go of his “pocket.” The actions of the Israelites were cyclical. They would lose focus and let go of his pocket, then begin to sin which would leave them captives eventually. Then he would raise up someone to rescue them, they would worship God, and over time become complacent until the next generation and then they would end up back at square one.
Losing focus, or merely growing complacent, can threaten my grip. Being intentional in my walk with him keeps me focused. When I walk with God, I know that I will never be lost, never be alone, because he has promised to be with me:
Because God has said “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”~ Hebrews 13:5
Holding his pocket, for me, is simply loving God as I am called to do with all my heart, all my soul, and all my might on a daily basis. It is loving others and spending time in His word, talking to him through prayer, and living my life trying to not just listen to the word of God, but to live it out.
It is in obedience to him that I have security to know that he is always with me and the reassurance that I cannot be separated from him.