FIRMLY HELD

“Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.”
(Isaiah 41:10)
These kinds of verses are very comforting when one is not afraid or living with fearful circumstances. But when we are afraid, they seem almost like another brick in our already loaded backpack.
Fear often emanates from lack of control of our circumstances, health, money, emotions and behaviors. The standard alternative advice is to allow the Holy Spirit to take control of our life. Again, this is simple advice when all is well and rather difficult when we are scrambling.
For me, during fearful times I may start using the term God, instead of Father. In the text above we read, “I am your God,” and that can seem like a ‘something’. If we read it, “I am your Father. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” This is a ‘someone.’ This is a Father helping his fearful children.

‘My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Jesus