“Fear not, for I am with you.”
Isaiah 41:10
God’s word tells us we don’t need to fear. It seems that everywhere we turn there are reasons to be fearful. The fear of getting the Coronavirus, the fear of getting cancer, or losing someone to cancer. The fear of being in an accident or losing someone to an accident. The fear of losing a job or not making enough to cover our expenses. The fear of an upcoming surgery or testing. The list could go on and on.
I had memorized this verse in Isaiah 41 over forty years ago and it was the first verse that God’s Spirit brought to my mind while I was walking through all the cancer treatments and side effects with my husband, Bill. When I thought I just couldn’t do it because it was so hard and breaking my heart, God would bring this verse to my mind, again and again.
God tells us why we don’t need to fear, it’s because He is with us. The verse goes on to say, “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”.
God promises to give us the strength we need and the help we need, day by day and moment by moment. As we all walk through these unprecedented and uncertain times it’s not about us holding on to God, but it’s Him upholding us. This is the One who created us, who knows us intimately and loves us unconditionally. We can know that as we walk through the valley we need not fear.
“For you are with me and goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
I don’t know about you, but I need to remind myself that I’m not home yet. This life is preparing me for the eternal life to come. I need to constantly remind myself that while I’m here on this earth I am an ambassador for Christ and as imperfect as I am, he has a calling on my life.
God’s goal for me is not to give me a perfect life here now to make me more Christlike. God had determined the number of my days even before I was born and will call me home, until then I need to fight the good fight, keep the faith and finish my race. I don’t know about you but I want to finish strong so I can hear the words, “well done, good and faithful servant.”