When you are trying to grip something for a long period of time, you start to lose your grip and need to take a new grip. With my problematic hands, I often need to re-grip items. In Hebrews, the author writes to “take a new grip with your tired hands.” The word “tired” actually can be translated to “paralyzed.”
Why would your hands be paralyzed? Why would your knees be weak? Earlier in the passage, the author speaks of how God disciplines His children. Discipline seems horrible at the moment, but it produces righteousness (v. 11). We do not simply undergo the discipline, but we submit to it and as a result we share in God’s holiness. God disciplines us because He loves us.
The hands were tired and the knees were weak because there was no endurance in faith. They were tired from the burden of sin. They were focused on the world rather than God. They were not looking to the Holy Spirit for help, not being intentional with their faith. When you do not have an active prayer life, you are paralyzed. When you are not reading and hearing the Word (reading your Bible and attending church), you are paralyzed. You cannot do life alone. Today take a new grip. Strengthen those hands and knees.
“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.” – Hebrews 12:12 [NLT]
Tania Gutekunst 