“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
When the prophet, Isaiah, wrote Isaiah 41, his readers were not yet in captivity in Babylon. But he addresses questions that his readers would have about this coming captivity. Could God deliver them or would God save them from the coming disaster? God reminds His people in chapter 41 that because He is a great and gracious God Who will deliver His people from disaster, they can still trust in Him.
The Lord, through His prophet, Isaiah, assured the fearful nation of Israel that it did not need to fear the nations of the world (Isaiah 41:1-7) because God remained committed to His people and would use them to accomplish His purposes (Isaiah 41:8-20). What really caught my attention in this section was verse 10 where the Lord says to His people, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10). This verse is loaded with encouragement for us during these uncertain and turbulent times.
“Fear not, for I am with you” – We are often afraid when we perceive ourselves to be alone in the midst of uncertain times. As we have to deal with social distancing and unrest in our society, we may think we are all alone with our fears. But God assures us that there is no need to fear because HE IS WITH US. God’s presence in our lives replaces our fears with His peace. Because no one and nothing is greater than our God, we can be free of fear.
“Be not dismayed, for I am your God” – God says not to be dismayed or discouraged because He is our God. As Christians, we are not immune to trials and difficulties (cf. John 16:33). We can experience confusion as we face major challenges. We don’t always understand why things happen the way they do. You may lose your job or your health. A loved one may die. You may be falsely accused of wrongdoing. When faced with confusing situations, God says not to “be dismayed.” Why? Because He is our God! God does not always give us answers to our “Why” questions. He gives us Himself.
“I will strengthen you” – Do you feel your strength slipping away? You feel as though you cannot hold on much longer? Don’t give up. Give in to God. He says to you, “I will strengthen you.” It is God who strengthens us to face each day. When our resources are depleted, we can easily fall victim to fear. We don’t have the energy needed to live above our circumstances and insecurities. But God does. Wait upon Him to renew your strength. He is there for you.
“Yes, I will help you” – Have you been let down by others? Are you the recipient of broken promises from those who said they would be there for you? God says to you, “I will help you.” He does not say, “I might help you.” Nor does He say, “I will try to help you.” He says, “I WILL help you.” This help from God is an absolute certainty! Our confidence does not need to be shaken when we see society collapsing around us because God has not changed. He still helps us amidst the chaos and social unrest.
“I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” – Do you feel like you are drowning under an avalanche of change? Does it seem like you have been treading water for months and you can no longer stay afloat? God wants you to know that there is no way He is going to let you drown. He guarantees to “uphold” or support you with His “righteous right hand” that does what is right when others constantly do wrong. The same hand that placed the sun, moon, and stars in the sky (Psalm 8:3) will not let go of you. His grip on us remains firm even when we waver in our walk with Him (John 10:28-29).
Prayer: Lord God Almighty, thank You for encouraging me with this one verse. I don’t like to admit it, but my faith can easily be overrun with many fears especially when I listen to the sensationalism of the media. When I feel overwhelmed with loneliness and fear, please redirect me to the fact that You are with me. Nothing and no one can separate me from Your love. When my life is filled with confusion and unanswered questions, you don’t always give me answers. You give me something much better. You give me Yourself. Thank You for the strength Your presence gives me to face my fears and insecurities. When others break their promises to me, You keep Yours. I can always count on You to deliver on what You have said. I appreciate the constant support You give me. Your righteous right hand never lets go of me. Thank You for holding me up when I am ready to collapse. Bless Your holy name my Lord and my God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.