"...When we feel God's hand holding us in times of trial, the touch gives us nerve and calm." - The Biblical Illustrator
Isaiah 41:10 says - "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."
Isaiah 41:13 says -"For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
God the Father has a "word" for His children. It is found in the above Scriptures.
Let's examine them to see what He has to say.
As your Father, He is saying to you, His child - "Fear thou not; for I am with thee..."
If God says - "Fear not" - you can be assured that He means it.
In fact, He says it more than seventy (70) times in the Scriptures. And each time He says it, He means to silence your fears.
In Isaiah 41, this promise was addressed to the exiled Jews during their long and painful captivity in Babylon. However, this same promise may be regarded as addressed to all of God's people in similar circumstances.
What it was saying to the Jews of old is that those who had been selected by God to be His special people had nothing to fear. And what it is saying today to the people of God is that those whom God has chosen have nothing to fear.
They need not fear the threatening of the enemy... nor fear the promise of deliverance will fail...or that they will perish in their affliction.
Matthew Henry offered these words of comfort - "It is against the mind of God that His people should be a timorous people."
The Sermon Bible Commentary added - "Heaven is full of 'Fear-nots.' And if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, it will break out of your midnight, and up from your deepest valley too, that voice of the Father, the All-in-All."
Your Heavenly Father is saying to you today - "Fear Thou not." Can you hear His voice?
In spite of the fact that you have enemies which are so many...so mighty...so subtle...so malignant ...and so ceaseless in their attacks, you have Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence on your side.
In every stage of your journey...in every moment of your life...in every step you take...and in a world whose habits, principles, and practices are all foreign and hostile, your Heavenly Father is saying to you - "Fear thou not."
The reason why you as a child of God need never be afraid is because God promised to be with you - "Fear thou not; for I am with thee..."
He is with you not merely by His essence or power but by His providence - supporting, preserving, ordering, observing, and overruling all things - and by His special grace - guarding and protecting ...supporting and supplying... comforting and strengthening your heart.
He is with you to impart the grace and strength needed to face all of life's circumstances...to help you through the times of crises...and to sustain you in every trial.
You are safe in His hands. Hence, it is wrong and unnecessary to fear - even though the dangers seem great...the work seems so hard...and you seem so weak. Your Heavenly Father is for you more than all against you!
Read the illustration that J. Trapp offered on this - "If Caesar could say to the fearful ferryman, in a terrible storm, 'Be of good cheer; thou carriest Caesar, and therefore canst not miscarry,' how much more may he presume to be safe that hath God in his company! A child in the dark fears nothing while he hath his father by the hand."
Oh, did you catch what was said here?
"A child in the dark fears nothing while he hath his father by the hand."
You may be facing a "dark" situation right now, but you need not fear a thing because your Heavenly Father has a hold of your hand.
In Isaiah 41:10, God went on to say - "...be not dismayed; for I am thy God..."
Because your Heavenly Father is engaged for you, you do not have to look about as one in distress or in a state of alarm or danger.
You do not have to be amazed or anxiously looking at others in dismay. On the contrary, you can be calm and under no apprehension from your foes. Your Father has all power and that power is pledged for your protection. You have nothing to fear.
Then God offers you a triple wall of protection when He says - "...I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."
"...I will strengthen thee..."
Do you feel weak?
God promises to put His strength in your soul - enabling you to perform your duties...withstand corruptions...resist temptations...bear afflictions... and suffer persecutions. You need not fear when He has strengthened you.
John Gill offered this comment - "...and if God is the strength of His people, they need not be afraid of any persons or thing."
Imagine that! Because God is the "strength" of your life, you never need to be afraid of anyone or anything!
"...yea, I will help thee..."
Are you destitute of friends? Do you feel all alone?
God promises to "help" you out of all your affictions and temptations...out of the hands of all your enemies...and in your time of need. Because He is your helper, you need never fear what man or the devil can do to you!
"...yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."
Are you ready to give up?
God promises to "uphold" you with His faithful "right hand." He promises to go hand in hand with you through your difficulties and trials. With such a One by your side, you need never feel powerless against the enemy's attacks!
Now read the promise your Heavenly Father offers you in Isaiah 41:13 - "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
Here He promises to be your strength - personally interfering on your behalf - keeping you from falling and strengthening you to oppose your enemies. As one friend takes another by the hand in distress and comforts him, He promises all the needful assistance and supply that you need.
The Biblical Illustrator offered this comment - "A little lad in the hospital was asked if he could bear a severe operation. 'Yes,' was his reply, 'if father will hold my hand.' When we feel God's hand holding us in times of trial, the touch gives us nerve and calm."
Like that little boy, you may be facing a "scary situation." However, no matter what it may be, you can "bear" it without fear because your Heavenly Father is holding your hand.
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."
"For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
Your Heavenly Father has a "word" for you today.
In a sense, that word is this - as a child of God, you need not be afraid of anyone or anything. God is your God. And He is holding you by the "right hand" and will not let go!
If you will have faith as a grain of mustard seed, out of your "midnight" or out of your "deepest valley," you will hear the voice of your Father saying - "Fear thou not."
Can you hear the voice of your Father?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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