His hand is stretched out still

One of my most favorite scriptures is in Isaiah and also in the Book of Mormon a good handful of times. It brings me so much joy, so much hope, and so much love. Elder Holland explained it best below:

Isaiah 9:12, 17, 21. “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still”

Although the phrase “his hand is stretched out still” can represent the justice of God holding the wicked accountable, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reminds us of the merciful aspect of this imagery:

“To all of you who think you are lost or without hope, or who think you have done too much that was too wrong for too long, to every one of you who worry that you are stranded … , this conference calls out Jehovah’s unrelenting refrain, ‘[My] hand is stretched out still’ [Isaiah 5:25; 9:17, 21]. ‘I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them,’ He said, ‘[and even if they] deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, … if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts’ [2 Nephi 28:32]. His mercy endureth forever, and His hand is stretched out still. His is the pure love of Christ, the charity that never faileth, that compassion which endures even when all other strength disappears [see Moroni 7:46–47].

“I testify of this reaching, rescuing, merciful Jesus, that this is His redeeming Church based on His redeeming love” (“Prophets in the Land Again,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 106–7).

I love the Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all my heart. I know that He loves me unconditionally and that His hand is stretched out time and time again. It will always be outstretched to all of us. He loves each of us more than we could ever comprehend. He knows our name, he knows us personally, he knows our hopes and dreams, fears and frustrations. I am so thankful to know and feel of His great love for me. One day I, too, will be like the girl in the picture - wrapped in His arms.

But until then, I will continue to be wrapped in His love as I journey through this life.