Here is a portion of God’s Word that has been a blessing, encouragement, and inspiration to Christians for many years. It is a very strong statement of what Almighty God is able to do.
At the very beginning of the biblical text, it appears that God is putting our minds at ease.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). This is a ‘He-and-me’ scripture.’
Firstly, Fear not, for I am with you. As Christians, we have absolutely nothing to fear, because we are not left alone. God is omnipresent, meaning God has the divine ability to be everywhere at the same time. Actually, nowhere exists that God’s knowledge, presence, and power do not extend.
Secondly, be not dismayed, for I am your God. To be dismayed means to lack courage; a feeling of distress or anxiety. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.” Don’t be anxious about anything, but without exception take everything to God in prayer accompanied with thanksgiving.
Thirdly, God promises, I will strengthen you. There are times in the Christian experience when an element of weakness seems to target our hope in the Lord and our expectation from Him. During those times we must completely rely on the Lord to strengthen us, and in the power of His might.
Fourthly, God promises, I will help you. God is completely reliable for help in all situations as needed. The psalmist declares, “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1). The Christian’s help is from the Lord and not from man, since “Vain is the help of man” (Psalm 108:12 KJV).
God promises to help us. His help is guaranteed to be forthcoming because God fulfills His promises. The Scripture says, “God is not man that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19).
Whatever He says, He surely means.
God’s promises find their Yes in Him,
And through Him we say our Amens.
(Geoff Daniels 01/2022)
Fifthly, God promises, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. God’s right hand is significant in the Scriptures. Christ is now seated at God’s right hand. God’s right hand is a symbol of God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence.
Hebrews 1:3 says, “After making purification for sins, [Jesus] sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Also, King David said this about God’s right hand, “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Therefore, God’s right hand means a place of security, strength, authority, faithfulness, and indeed great blessings. Absolutely no one may change or modify what God does or says.
Isaiah 41:10 shows the faithfulness, kindness, concern, and unconditional love God has for His children. And this should inspire us to be faithful in our worship and service to Him.
Nowhere in the Scriptures does God promise life will be trouble free for the Christian. Quite the contrary. Jesus said: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The word tribulation means trials, trouble, difficulty, and suffering.
However, Jesus gives us encouragement, assurance, and hope when He said, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” This means we must have confidence in what Jesus is saying and be comforted accordingly.
As Moses was coming to the end of leading the children of Israel, he had encouraging words for Joshua, his successor. He said, ”It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
This also applies to believers today. Our God will neither leave us, nor forsake us.