Take a look around. Pay attention to the news. Read social media. Read newspapers. What emotions do those elicit? Do you come away with peace, joy, and hope? Do you walk away fearful, depressed, and anxious? There are plenty of things that can produce fear all around us. Last night I drove out to the lake to reflect. I parked on a cliff overlooking Lake Meredith. The wind blew briskly. I saw the waters swirling below. Instead of peace I was reminded that several people have drowned in that lake this summer. Fear of the water snaked into my thoughts.
We can fear droughts and floods. We can succumb to fear with a doctor's report, the economy, and retirement. We can fear for our families. We are tempted to fear the moral decline of the nation. We can fear upcoming elections and the end times.
Isaiah 41:10 is good medicine to overcome fear. Right off the bat we are told not to fear. In light of some of the things listed above, fear seems the natural response. God does not tell us not to fear without reason. He says not to fear because He is with us. That is like working with a personal protector. Before things ever get to us they must first get through Him. Even when tragedies happen, He is there. He does not abandon us. He is sufficient to meet us where we are. If He is with us we have hope.
Therefore, we do not have to be dismayed. To lose heart. God walks with us to get through the tough stuff. He strengthens us to endure through it. He promises to do that and to help us. Helping might look like just helping you breathe as you feel the weight of the world crashing on you. Helping may be comforting you in those nights of weeping when sleep evades. Helping may be unexpected provision to help you make it through the financial crisis. Helping may be causing faith to float again so you can pray. Helping may be consoling your broken heart. Helping may just be Him holding you and listening as you vent.
He also upholds us. He sustains us. When our lives are crumbling, He is our support. He holds us with His righteous right hand. The root word of righteous is right. He upholds us with His right hand. His hand that is incapable of doing wrong. Our belief in that will be tested. There are times when our lives don't make sense. When our circumstances will test everything we believe about God. He is right in what He does. That is hard to believe when you stand beside your deceased loved one. It is hard to believe when you get laid off or when you have a repair bill you don't have money to pay. Trust me I have been there. I have learned that if I trust God long enough He always proves that He is faithful.
I am right hand dominant. That means might right arm is a little stronger than my left arm. God promises to hold us with His right hand. Biblically the right hand symbolized power. God promises to hold us up with His powerful and strong right hand. He will not fail. His strength is never compromised. No matter how heavy the load or massive the burden, He can still support us.
For all of those reasons, we do not have to give into fear. We can choose to stand in faith taking God at is word with verses like Isaiah 41:10. There are many others for you to discover to help you in your battle to fight fear. I hope this helps you to fight for faith and against fear.
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