Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 41:13 (NLT).
For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
God tells His people “don’t be afraid” time after time in scripture. The Lord says this in His call to Abraham and Isaac, to Joshua as they enter the Promised Land, and here as His children face the Babylonian invasion. Later Jesus will say this to His disciples as He walks on the water to them and after His Resurrection.
God calls us to trust Him when things are at their worst, when it seems like the whole world is against us. This is the world’s normal state, however. We have been warned that Christ’s message of love will not be readily accepted in a world that craves its own way more than a relationship with Him.
God also calls us to trust Him when things are good, when it seems we have the world by the tail. This is where we often fail Him, when we forget that we don’t achieve good things by ourselves. Moses warned the children of Israel “Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today” (Deuteronomy 8:11). God is there for us in good times and bad, always ready to forgive and restore us.
Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we fear and fail to trust You, or in our arrogance think we don’t need Your help. Strengthen our faith and send us to show the world the love You have for all of us. Amen.
