Fear Not
I am quite often guilty of allowing myself to become anxious. Sometimes, I play all possible outcomes in my head and I hyper-focus on the negative outcomes. However, God says “fear not”.
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 (ESV)
I saw this verse of encouragement this morning. Someone’s son had to have emergency surgery and this was the verse that accompanied the request for prayers. I prayed the verse out loud along with prayers for healing. However, this verse also encouraged me.
I find moving one of the most stressful things to do and I’m preparing to move out of state again. My mind has been swirling with the costs of the move, getting rid of unwanted furniture, ensuring things are turned on where we’re going and turned off here, how we’re going to get our pet there comfortably, saying goodbye, etc. Those thoughts are always in the back of my mind, and it’s really stressful.
So, when I read this verse, I felt a sense of comfort. I know my situation is drastically different from her son’s, but I was still able to apply this verse to my life. At times, I let myself worry to the point where it starts to consume me. I could sense God telling me that my worry is for nothing and I felt that it showed a lack of faith. I prayed about this move and I really feel that God’s hand is in this, just as it was when we moved here.
Breaking it down
Let’s break the verse a little. It starts off by telling us not to fear because He is with us. There is an immediate command followed by a promise. He is with us. Not just when we pray or when we’re in church, always! In every situation, big or small, God is there with us.
Next, it tells us to not be “dismayed”. Dismay is distress usually caused by something unexpected. There is so much uncertainty in our lives that we can quickly become dismayed, but there is nothing bigger than our God. We need to keep our eyes on Him and cast our fears and troubles on Him.
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)
Next, there is another promise. A promise to strengthen and help us. The weight of what we’re carrying can feel like it’s too much to bear. However, you are not supposed to carry all of that weight around. It’s time to spend quality time with the Father to get the support you need.
Finally, God says He will uphold us with His righteous hand. If you have faith in Him, He will see us through. Hold tight to this promise. Keep in mind that not everything is going to go our way. But, if you’re honoring God in all that you do, He will make all things work together for good. His right hand is a symbol of His holiness, greatness, and righteousness.
Let that stress go!
We can’t walk around feeling stressed and anxious all the time. That can take you to a very dark place. In all things, get God’s guidance and pray His promises. Remember that He is with you always, so do not fear.
Have a wonderful week!
Before you go…
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