Read Isaiah 41:1-20

“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)

The context of this chapter is really quite emphatic. We might expect to see such comforting words from God over a people who are mourning and helpless, when in fact these are words over an unfaithful people who were hardly contrite over their sin. We see the dynamics of this play out only a few verses later when God says, "Fear not, you worm Jacob." (see Isaiah 41:14)

What a wonder that God remains faithful even when we are faithless! (see 2 Timothy 2:13) God remains true to His Word even when we have forsaken ours. (see Numbers 23:19) God continues to carry us through our trials even when we have claimed that He doesn’t care. (see Isaiah 40:27-28).

When we are worms, God remains wonderful. Oh, the faithfulness of God!

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)

Looking back on our verse, we must observe two things.

First, because God is God, we as the people of God have no need to fear. Notice that the reason God gives to Israel for not being afraid or dismayed is because of who He is. "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God."

**If you have called upon the name of the Lord and received the wonderful gift of His salvation by faith, you are God’s child and He is now your God. That cannot be undone. No matter the sin — God is your God. No matter the failures — God is your God. No matter the struggles, and the doubts, and the uncertainties — God is your God.

Beloved, God is enough to cast out all fear. Stop looking in other places and poking around for other answers. Let God be enough, for He overwhelmingly is!

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

Second, because God is God, we as the people of God have the help and strength of God readily available no matter what. In three rapid and sweeping promises, God casts all doubt as to His position for us. Three times God says, “I will.” “I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Only moments before God also made this promise —

“He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:29–31)

Dear friend — can’t you see that God is offering you this same strength today? That He will enable you to tread on the heights of life and leap over your trials like a deer? (see Habakkuk 3:19) That He stands by your side to deliver you from the mouth of the lion? (see 2 Timothy 4:17) Oh, ye of little faith, why do you doubt? Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might! (see Ephesians 6:10).

Receive the strength of our Risen Christ today, for it is truly yours! He offers you His right hand even now. Take it. He will surely uphold you.

“[I pray] He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16)

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