DEVOTION – DAY 125

Isaiah 41:10 “Do Not Fear”

 

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

 

There are so many things that may cause us to be worried or fearful. There is the ever-present fear of catching Covid-19 virus. There is the fear of losing our jobs or our boss telling us business is bad and that all employees must have a salary cut. Some of us may be fearful about health issues and the rising cost of medical treatment. Some may simply be fearful of being left alone without anyone to turn to. Being fearful and worried about something is not new. God knows that we have fears and worries. That is why in passages like Matt.6:25;27;34, Jesus said these words, “25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

The Lord, in Matt.6:25-34 tells us not to worry because we have God who knows what we need. He will provide what we need. In the same way, as we look at OT, in passages like Isaiah 41:10, we have the comforting assurance that He is with us. He will strengthen and help us. To remain fearful when we have assurances from God would be the same as not trusting God to take care of us.

In the last half year, we saw two examples. One was the case of someone who trusted God, and another, was a case of someone who did not trust God. We know someone who was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, by the time his condition was diagnosed, the cancer had spread and it was already stage 4 and was terminal. He was filled with fear. As his condition worsened, his Christian relatives reached out to him and he put his faith and trust in Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Although he knew his days were numbered, he began to experience peace and his fears receded. He drew strength from God’s promises that God would be with him. In the other example, we know someone who was about to lose her job. She was the sole breadwinner of her family. She was fearful of not finding another job because the pandemic had badly affected the economy and jobs were hard to get. Instead of trusting God, she trusted in her own abilities and she did something illegal in the hope of securing some income. Her actions have caused her to remain in fear. She is fearful of being caught and may face penalties. There is no peace for her, only fear. Sadly, in her desperation, she had failed to trust that God would always be with her.

Let us pray: Dear Father, You are our ever present help and source of our peace and hope. Thank you for watching over us always and please help us to trust you and be content in every situation. In the great name of the Lord Jesus we ask. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What fears trouble you? Why do you become fearful? Share.
  2. How have the verses in this devotion helped you to manage your fears?
  3. What do you think happens when we fail to believe that God is with us in every situation? Discuss.
  4. When you believe that God is with you in every situation, what happens to your fears? Discuss.