Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Ages ago I memorized Isaiah 41:10. It was so long ago that I do not recall just how old I was, but it was while I was still a boy. Regardless of when it was, this verse has been a constant source of encouragement in my life. In the darkest hours of pain and fear I have found that God is faithful to His Word.
I once heard someone relate a cynically humorous line: Someone told me to cheer up, that things could be worse. So I cheered up and sure enough, things did get worse!
In my many years of experience in counseling people who are discouraged, I have found that the most useless advice is to tell them to cheer up. But even being aware of this I have often found myself giving this advice. They are not satisfied being this way, but they need an answer that will lead them out of fear and despondency.
The Scripture for today gives real hope for the person who is captivated by fear or who find themself despondent. Our word of assurance from the Lord is that He is with us and He is our God. That means we are under His mighty hand of protection. There is no need for us to fight the battle ourselves, He promises here that He will strengthen us, help us, and uphold us with His righteous right hand. That is the hand of strength.
You may be facing the giant of a medical diagnosis that seems terminal. You may have just been notified that your employment is terminated. You may have had your heart broken by infidelity. You may be sitting at the bedside of a loved one who has lost their grip on life. I could go on and on, but the good news is that we have a Savior in heaven who knows what we are going through and is standing right there beside us. Trust Him!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil