From Tight Fists to Open Hands - Encouragement for Today - April 13, 2026

Encouragement for Today

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Teressa Shrewsbury April 13, 2026

From Tight Fists to Open Hands
TERESSA SHREWSBURY, COMPEL Pro Member

“You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” Psalm 145:16 (NIV)

As I hung up the phone with my daughter, my mind started racing. I replayed her words and immediately began searching for a way to fix things. Before I knew it, I had slipped into my superhero alter ego, Captain Fix-It, ready to save the day.

Convinced my carefully crafted plan would work, I called my best friend, certain she’d say, “That’s exactly what I would do if I were you.”

Except she didn’t answer. Well, now what? Like a light flickering on, I realized instead of turning to someone else for help, I needed to get on my knees and ask the Lord.

As I prayed for wisdom and discernment to help my daughter, I felt the Lord leading me to do … nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Deep down, I knew He was asking me to let this go. But fear began to spiral, and I found myself listing every worst-case scenario. One by one, I spoke each fear to God, counting them on my fingers until I sat there with an open hand.

In that moment, it all became clear. With tears streaming down my face, I finally exhaled.

On my knees, with my hand open, the Lord gently reminded me that I could let go and trust that the situation was already in His hands. In His kindness, He showed me that while a tight fist clings to fear, an open hand is ready to receive His peace.

Psalm 145:16 paints this beautiful picture of God: “You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” This verse reminds us that God holds nothing back from us.

Yet as I reflected on those words, I realized how often I hold back from God. When problems arise, I default to fix-it mode, rushing to solve everything on my own before I even think to pray. The more stress piles on, the tighter my grip becomes.

But you and I weren’t created to cling to life with white-knuckled fists. Instead, we are invited to release control and bring our open hands to God.

Even in the moments when we think we know what’s best. When we feel in over our heads. When the next step is unclear. With open hands, we can bring it all to our loving Father and place it in His hands. Because only when our hands are open can we receive all the Lord longs to give us.

Friend, whatever you’re facing right now, I encourage you to kneel before your Father and open your hands in prayer. Don’t hold on so tightly. Loosen your grip, and rest in His promise of peace.

You can go ahead and breathe that sigh of relief. You don’t have to carry this alone.

Father God, I’m choosing to open my hands and place every fear, burden, and unanswered question into Your care. Help me release what was never mine to carry. I trust You. Quiet my heart, and replace my striving with Your peace. Thank You for being a God who provides, holds me gently, and reminds me that I am never alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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ENGAGE

Today’s devotion writer, Teressa Shrewsbury, is a COMPEL Pro member and a winner of the annual Encouragement for Today Devotion Writing Challenge. To find out more about COMPEL Pro Writers Training and how to become a member today, click here! You can also check out the COMPEL Pro community on Instagram and Facebook.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding …” (NIV).

Try to list the fears you’re carrying today. What would it look like to place each one into God’s hands? What do you think God might want to place in your open hands right now?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org