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 41:10 KJV
The Inspiration:
As you read the verses just before today's extract, you get the distinct impression that the time these words were written was a season of fear. God has raised a man from the East, and gave him victory over great nations. The first lesson here for me is to ask God for grace to recognise when and where He is at work, so I can join Him at work. If I do not understand or recognize the times and seasons I am in, it is very likely that I will take the wrong steps. The people who saw the man of the East in action reacted in fear, and rather than turn to God, they turned to smiths and welders to help them fashion a god that had to be held in place so it would not fall down. For me, how do I react in this season that wants to strike fear? Would I turn to the devices of men, or to the One who can raise men to do His bidding? Would I seek after the tokens of liars, or would I turn to the true God for help and sustenance in these times of fear?
The Expectation:
The verses before today's extract go on to talk about God's people, who He had chosen for Himself. The expectation of and from those who know God must always be different. God speaks to those who have come to trust in Him completely, not those who have alternative measures in place, in the event that the main plan does not work. It is important to note that it was God who chose the seed of Abraham for himself, because Abraham walked in faith, even when the realities around him did not make sense. In these times too, many of our experiences may not encourage faith in a God that we cannot see with our physical eyes, but for all who have walked with God, we know that faith is never first about what you see, but about who you know. You believe in God, and then you walk with him, and no matter where He leads, you can trust His power, wisdom and grace to sustain you all through the journey. Do I really know this God, or is there any other god that is appealing to me?
The Conclusion:
The words of today's verse then makes sense in the context above. I do not fear, not because I have high fences or plenty of muscles, but because God is with me. This is all that matters: God's presence. God and fear cannot co-habit the same heart all the time. God knows my frame, as he knows that sometimes fear can grip my heart and threaten my peace, so He encourages me to focus only on Him. All I need for the journey ahead is available only in Him: strength, wisdom, direction and help. When I am helpless, weak, and clueless, God is there to provide whatever is appropriate for the season I am in. He upholds and preserves, because He is an eternal God. There is no earthly experience that lasts forever; only God is eternal, and all who trust in God have his assurance that all will end well. It is never too late to know and submit to this God; He waits for all of us. Do not delay, as there is no guarantee of tomorrow outside of God. God's time of favour is here.
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