"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess"

Martin Luther’s reflection reveals a deep acknowledgment of the fleeting nature of worldly possessions and control. Human experience is marked by constant change, with material items, accomplishments, and even cherished relationships often slipping away despite our best efforts. The hands serve as a metaphor for the attempt to grasp, hold onto, and manage aspects of life. No matter how tightly one clings to these things, loss is an inevitability; physical items deteriorate, circumstances shift, and people change or pass on. The impermanence of what is held in one’s own hands highlights the inherent vulnerability and limitations of human agency.

By contrast, surrendering what matters into God’s hands denotes trust, faith, and relinquishment of control. There is an implicit belief that while humans lack the power to retain or preserve, God’s care and providence transform the nature of possession. Entrusting something to God is not a resignation from responsibility but a recognition that ultimate security cannot be found within oneself or the external world. Instead, true possession consists not of ownership or control, but of a relationship grounded in faith. Whatever is placed in God’s care, hopes, loved ones, talents, even one's own life, is preserved in a different, more lasting way.

What is “possessed” through God is not tangible in the conventional sense; rather, it is a possession of peace, meaning, and assurance despite uncertainty or loss. In practical terms, this perspective shifts the focus from accumulating and hoarding to gratitude, stewardship, and surrender. Paradoxically, what is freely offered up is what endures within: peace of heart, resilience in adversity, and a hope that surpasses loss. Luther’s statement is ultimately a meditation on the difference between temporary ownership and lasting spiritual security, inviting readers to redefine what it truly means to possess anything at all.