Don’t Be Afraid!
(Isaiah 41:10)
By Pastor Kelly Sensenig
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).
Many Christians develop fears that become a spiritual weight and barrier to effective Christian living and service. They live with haunting fears related to their past, present, and future experience that stifle their Christian living and ministry. Instead of walking by faith they wrestle with fear and fail to experience the greatness of God’s presence and power operating in their lives. They fail to appropriate God’s presence and provision so that they can have victory over fear and not live according to the depilating effects of fear. In Isaiah 41:10 God is telling us, “Don’t be afraid.” This is because God has promised to be with us in order to strengthen and sustain our lives. Isaiah 41:10 will be the main part of our study. This Bible verse gives us the unfailing promise of God’s presence operating in lives which is the only true antidote that can cure plaguing fears and anxieties. Pills, pop-psychology, and programs will not cure fear. However, God’s presence will rid our lives of the fears that are seeking to destroy our spiritual effectiveness for the Lord and our walk with God.
The Tigers in the Dark
Several years ago there was a well-known television circus show that developed a Bengal tiger act. Like the rest of the show, it was done "live" before a large audience. One evening, the tiger trainer went into the cage with several tigers to do a routine performance. The door was locked behind him. The spotlights highlighted the cage, the television cameras moved in close, and the audience watched in suspense as the trainer skillfully put the tigers through their paces. In the middle of the performance, the worst possible fate befell the act: the lights went out! For twenty or thirty long, dark seconds the trainer was locked in with the tigers. In the darkness the tigers could see him, but he could not see them. A whip and a small kitchen chair seemed meager protection under the circumstances, but he survived, and when the lights came on, he calmly finished the performance. In an interview afterward, he was asked how he felt knowing that the tigers could see him but that he could not see them. He first admitted the chilling fear of the situation, but pointed out that the tigers did not know that he could not see them. He said, "I just kept cracking my whip and talking to them until the lights came on. And they never knew I could not see them as well as they could see me."
This experience gives us a vivid picture of our own human lives. At some point in our lives, all of us face the terrifying task of fighting tigers in the dark. Many people cope daily with internal fears which are capable of destroying them unless they find God’s cure or antidote for their fears. Of course, Christians can be overtaken with fear when they forget about God’s presence and help in their lives. Fear can become a debilitating thing in our lives. Fear can haunt us, hound us, and horrify us. Fear can deter us from God’s purpose, disrupt our peace that we can have from God, and finally destroy our spiritual lives.
Let me ask you a few questions. Do you fear the tigers in the dark? Do you sense that you are in a cage, with the lights out, and that you are facing some raging tigers? Are there some tigers in the dark which are plaguing your own heart and life with fear? You may fear the future? Many Christians live with fears about tomorrow. They are fearful of what they need to do and how they are going to do it. We can possess fear about the tasks we must do or the appointments we must keep. We can become fearful of the work schedules, the school tests, the heavy load, and life’s demands in general. Some worry about not having enough money and this causes fear to overtake their hearts and lives. Fear can strike our hearts at any time and begin to defeat us spiritually. The tigers in the dark can create fear and distress in our lives.
Jacob stole the birthright and Esau could never put this behind him. He wanted Jacob dead. At one point the solders of Esau were coming to kill Jacob and take revenge. The Bible says in Genesis 32:6-7: “And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. The hunting hounds were coming! Jacob knew this and “he was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands.”
Like Jacob, we can become “greatly afraid and distressed” in life when we are faced with our enemies and the trials of life. Fear and distress can overtake us and cause us to become defeated in our walk with the Lord. There are many Christians today who have allowed fear and distress to both run and ruin their lives. They live with daily fears instead of basking in the presence of God and relying upon Him to take away their fears and anxieties.
The cartoon figure Charlie Brown once said:
"I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time."
Many people live like this. They fear tomorrow and all that tomorrow may bring into their lives. They live with daily fears that tend to put out their effectiveness for the Lord. Instead of living by faith they live by fear and spiral downward in their Christian life. Jacob remembered that the Lord was with Him and He prayed to the Lord so he might be delivered from His fears.
Genesis 32:11
“Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.”
Jacob remembered the presence of the Lord. As a result, he prayed to the Lord, when fear invaded his heart, and when fear tries to steal away his peace and rest in the Lord. When we pray to God to take away our fears He is ready and willing to answer our prayer. When fear seeks to invade our heart we can immediately go to the Lord in prayer and be released from our fears.
Psalm 34:4
“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
He’s only a prayer away!
“I thank the Lord
for everything,
I count my blessings each day.
He came to me when I needed Him,
I only had to pray.
And He'll come to you if you ask Him to,
He's only a prayer away!”
Dear friend, it’s time to pray so you can be released from your fears. You may possess some common fears related to old age and ask yourself, “What is going to happen when I can’t take care of myself? How am I going to survive? Where am I going to go? I don’t have enough money to take care of myself. It’s time to pray and turn your fears over to the Lord. We may have fears related to some illness of sickness. We may be overtaken with fear not knowing what effect a certain physical illness may have upon our lives. We may fear the debilitating effects of a disease or sickness. We may fear the thought of death and dying. The fear of death, illness, change, rejection, failure, and old age are common fears that can plague our lives. It’s time to pray and be released from these fears.
Some people have phobias which they have accumulated such as fear of heights, fear of flying, fear of water, fear of open places, and fear of strangers. These frightful feelings can become so strong that Christians can become imprisoned by them. Avoiding the places or people who remind them of these fears becomes a common practice. If a person is not careful they can turn into a hermit and live a life filled with overcoming and debilitating fear. They can try to avoid their fears be sheltering themselves and become a spiritually ineffective Christian overcome by the fears of life. It’s time to pray and find release from our fears.
The consequence of fear suprresses our capacity to think clearly and rationally, which in return affects our behavior. Fear leads to indecision. We are afraid to make decisions for ourselves or others. Such indecision creates constant anxiety in our lives. Fear also diminishes our capacity to achieve. We cease trying to accomplish certain goals due to our fears. We become increasingly unproductive as our fears increase. Fear can cause panic in our hearts and lives. We cam suffer from anxiety attacks and other debilitating emotional upsets. We can live in inner turmoil. Fear creates torment. Emotional storms brew within our heart and God’s peace and joy are seldom experienced. Fear can also damage our relationships with others. We can become afraid to be around other people fearing that we will be hurt by them. Many people live in the constant fear of being hurt by other people. As a result, they don’t want to commit themselves to anybody or anything. Most of all fear damages our relationship with God. We can feel uncomfortable in God's presence sensing that He is displeased with us for yielding so consistently to our fears. As a result, we do not enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise. Worship is rarely practiced in our lives because of the ill effects of fear. Fear wrecks and ruins everything. Fear consumes us and controls us. For this reason we need to apply God’s timeless promise to our lives.
The Timeless Promise
This verse has been a real pillar of strength and a source of comfort to God’s children of every age. When fear and anxiety seeks to overtake our hearts and lives God comes along and says, “Don’t be afraid.” This is God’s timeless promise. We don’t have to live in fear.
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
There is a timeless promise that God gives to us in this verse if we are His true children. The promise is this. Don’t be afraid! Don’t fear! “Fear thou not.” What a wonderful reassurance and promise. We don’t have to fear when God is with us. Jesus said to His disciples, “Fear not, little flock …” (Luke 12:32). He told Abraham, “Fear not, Abram” (Gen. 15:1). He told Daniel, “Fear not, Daniel” (Daniel 12:32). He told Joshua, “Fear not” (Joshua 8:1). God is saying the same thing to us today. Don’t fear.
God also says in this verse, “be not dismayed” which basically means to look at things with anxiety and fright. The idea of this word means to experience trouble and alarm in our hearts because of the particular events that we are facing in life. We are “dismayed” when we allow our trials and burdens of life to create distress in our hearts, discourage us, disillusion us, and dishearten our lives. Many Christians live with fear and dismay. They live with daily fears, dread, and dismay which God wants to remove from their lives. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed.” God said something similar to Joshua when He told Joshua to not fear the king of Ai and his soldiers.
Joshua 8:1 reads:
“And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.”
God reminds us that we are victors when we are on His side. We can have victory over our enemies and live above our past and present trials in life. What is you “Ai” that you are facing today? The obstacle may seem big but I assure you that God is bigger than any obstacle that is before you and which you must face. He will go before you and give you the victory. Joshua certainly knew that this was true for He was a man who lived in God’s presence.
Joshua 10:25
“And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”
In Genesis 26:24 God said to Isaac:
“I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.”
God in His Word reveals that we don’t have to live in fear and allow the trials which are related to this life to cause “fear” and “dismay” in our hearts. Instead, we can live in His presence and depend upon His ever-present power to sustain us and strengthen us. We have a God who comes along side and says, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of you.” How wonderful this is!
When God was trying to call me into the ministry of preaching I was reluctant to obey His call. At first I did not understand what God was trying to do but later I sensed that God was definitely calling me to preach His Word. At one point I had many fears. I knew that I was not a natural-born speaker. I did not have good communication skills. I was not a perfect student. I was not sure anyone would every want to listen to me. The fears mounted up but then the Lord gave me this verse that calmed my fears and it’s a verse that I treasure to this very day.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
God can take away the fear of those tigers in the dark when we choose to live according to the timeless promise presented in this verse. Instead of living according to God’s promise (“fear thou not”) many people are locked in a dark cage that is filled with tigers. They live with constant fears related to illness, change, rejection, failure, the future, and old age. Christians can find themselves living in this type of bondage. The truth is this. When a person lives in constant fear he will never be a free man. However, God wants us to be free from the depilating fears of life.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Paul is speaking to Timothy about a fear related to witnessing and working for Christ and was advising Timothy to “stir up the gift of God, which is in thee” (vs. 1). Instead of fearing what others think we are to boldly stand up for Christ, do what is right, and use our gifts for the Lord. What Paul says to Timothy certainly applies to our own Christian responsibilities and the fears that sometime keep us from serving the Lord. Paul urged Timothy to not neglect the use of his God-given abilities for the service of Christ. We must remember that any person can become less effective in the exercise of his God-given abilities if he or she does not use them regularly. This was Paul’s concern. He wanted Timothy to keep active and using the gift that was given to him in God’s service.
General Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, once sent this message to those under him: “The tendency of fire is to go out; watch the fire on the altar of your heart. Anyone who has tended a fireplace fire knows that it needs to be stirred up occasionally.”
So Paul wanted Timothy to stir up his God-given gifts and use them. He wanted Timothy to keep the fire burning on the altar of his heart. Has your fire gone out? Has the fire or spiritual fervor of wanting to serve the Lord gone out of your soul? Have you lost the zeal you once had for the things of the Lord? If you have, the cause of your spiritual collapse may be due to the fears and pressures of life, which have overtaken you. For instance, the fear of failure and fear of others have a way of stifling your ministry and work for the Lord. The fear of man is a snare (Prov. 29:25).
Psalm 3:6
“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.”
Psalm 56:11
“In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”
To the preacher of old, God says:
“Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD” (Jer 1:8).
We must stand up and be counted for the Lord today and do what is right no matter what the cost. When we fear what other people think about us we will end up following their ways instead of God’s ways.
We can be sure of one thing. It’s not God that has placed fear in our hearts (“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear” – 2 Tim. 1:7). It’s not God’s plan and purpose for us to fear. God gives to us the power to overcome fear, a love that overrides fear (love for God and others), and a mind (free from worries and anxiety) that replaces the mental confusion related to fear. Dear friend, I can experience God’s power, God’s love, and God’s mind instead of the fears of life. When I have God’s power, love, and mind operating in my life I can live in such a way that fear does not overtake my life. I can live free from the depilating effects of fear. What a timeless promise and privilege we have as God’s people.
God says in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not.” What a timeless promise this is. It’s a reassuring promise that we can claim in the midst of the fears that seek to overtake our lives and crush our spirit. Instead of living in “the spirit of fear” (2 Tim. 1:7) I can live in the power of God’s grace and experience His constant care and protection over my life. I can practice God’s presence and find all that I need in Him.
The background of this section of Scripture in Isaiah 41:10 is clearly outlined for us. It is addressed primarily to the exiled Jews during their long and painful captivity in Babylon. The idea is this. The Jewish people who had been selected by God to be his special people had nothing to fear. God was ultimately on their side. God was going to bring them out of captivity and eventually bless them. This would take place in their release from Babylonian captivity but in a greater way and on a far grander scale in their return to the land of Palestine for the Millennial Kingdom, when they will inherit the land forever in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant.
The point is this. Even though Israel was exiled or taken into captivity because of her sin and unbelief, she still was not rejected by God. Since the covenant the Lord made with Abraham was unconditional (Gen. 15), his descendants need not fear. The Lord will remain Israel’s God (Isa. 43:3). He will continue to be with them (Isa. 43:5) and strengthen (Isa. 40:31), help and uphold them (Isa. 41:13-14). God would not abandon Israel since He gave her a covenant that was unconditional (Gen. 15:17-19). The ceremony recorded in Genesis 15 indicates the unconditional nature of the covenant. There are those who teach a replacement theology today. They claim that Israel has replaced by the Church and that God has forever abandoned the national people of Israel. Reformed Theology teaches this but the Scriptures do not teach. God is not finished with Israel and He gives them the assurance of this when saying:
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
God is basically saying in this verse, “Don’t be afraid.” What He said to Israel He is saying to us today. God does not want us to live in fear and dismay about the tragedies and terrible things that are going on all around us and in connection with your own lives. God does not want us to live a life that is filled with plaguing fear and overcoming anxiety which stems form the past, the present, or the future. God does not want us to possess fears that are related to the events of today or tomorrow. God does not want us to be overcome with fear because of our health or the happenings that are occurring in our lives right now. God wants to take us by the hand and remove the fears from our lives. He is saying, “Don’t be afraid. “Fear thou not.”
What a message this is for our personal lives today. It we would truly embrace this message from God we would stop taking tranquilizers, drinking booze, hiding, and trying to cover-up our fears with the things of this world. God is with us. He is there to help us, sustain us, and provide for our every need. We don’t have to be afraid.
The Treatment for Fear
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
The songwriter wrote:
“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed;
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.”
We now move from the timeless promise (“fear thou not”) to the treatment for overcoming fear. Every sickness must be treated to bring about a cure. The same is true for fear. The spiritual malady of fear needs to be treated and cured by God’s remedy. The treatment or remedy to rid your life of fear is found in Isaiah 41:10. Let’s break down Isaiah 41:10 in an easy outline.
There is a five-fold treatment that will cure fear.
1. Experience God’s presence (“I am with thee”)
We don’t have to fear since we have God’s abiding presence to provide us with comfort, peace, and spiritual stability in the changing seasons of our lives. God’s presence will help us to overcome the fears, foes, failures, and future that we face in life. We don’t have to be afraid since God is with us.
“O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou for ever near me,
My Master and my Friend:
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.”
In Matthew 14:27 Jesus said something similar to His disciples when their boat was on the Sea being tossed about by the raging storm. “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Jesus always comes to us in the storms of life. During those raging storms of life Jesus whispers in our ear, “Be of good cheer; it is I.” We are often storm-tossed, perplexed, and in despair. The Savior may seem far away but then we discover that He was there all the time! When the night seems darkest, the Lord is near at hand to help, save, and comfort us. We often push the panic button and forget about Him during the storm but then we hear His comforting voice “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Don’t be afraid!
“How can I fear?
Jesus is near.
He ever watches over me.
Worries all case;
He gives me peace.
How can I fear with Jesus?”
God said to Moses in Exodus 33:14:
“My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”
The text before us in Isaiah 41:10 speaks of the promise of God’s presence throughout our days upon earth. God’s presence is recognized in three areas of life.
a. The trials
God keeps repeating this promise to Israel. He gave the promise of His presence to Israel in an earlier text of Scripture.
Isaiah 43:2-5
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west.”
Water and fire are the traditional symbols for testing (Ps. 32:6; 42:7; 66:12; James 1:2). We all pass through the deep waters of trial and the fire of testing and hardship. There is none of us who are exempt from trial.
“I’ve been through a fire,
That has deepened my desire
To know the living God more and more.
It hasn’t been much fun,
But the work that is has done
In my life has made it worth the hurt.”
God also promised to protect His people from total destruction when they underwent their various trials and tests through history. One thing is certain. The worldwide scattering of Israel will not prevent God from fulfilling His covenant promises and give them a future in the Promised Land (Isa. 11:11–12; 27:13; 49:12; 60:4; Deut. 30:3–6). God would reassemble His sons and daughters from the ends of the earth (Isa. 43:6; Jer. 30:10–11; Ezek. 37). Their return from Babylonian captivity were not from the four compass points and so does not qualify as the complete and ultimate fulfillment of what God was promising. God will regather Israel in a final way when Jesus Christ returns to the earth (Matt. 24:31).
God said to His people on several occasions, “I will be with thee.” In essence, God would not abandon His ancient people. God would not give up on them. He promised to be their God and helper. Is this not what He promises to us today? Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, “and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” In Hebrews 13:5 God says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” What a promise this is! I don’t have to fear and be dismayed since God is with me. He is with me to help me through whatever I am facing in life. He is with me to hold my hand (Isa. 42:6) and give me joy, peace, and stability in the midst of the deep waters and fiery trials of life.
Many years ago I was studying with my fiancé in the college library. You may not believe it but I did get some study done. At one point I looked up and saw that she was crying. I immediately asked her what was wrong and she shared how wonderful a verse was to her, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). It is wonderful. God’s presence is with us to help still our fears and keep us from being overcome by fear and anxiety.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee” (Isaiah 41:10).
b. The tent
Exodus 33:1-11 describes the Tent of Meeting, which was a place where Moses met regularly with God, as he sought to be obedient to His calling. The tent referred to here cannot be the tabernacle since the Israelites had not yet built it. It must have been a smaller tent used as a meeting place for Moses, the people, and God over which the pillar of cloud stood. This tent served some of the functions of the tabernacle that later replaced it. The tent was a holy place that held the very presence of God. It was a place where Moses and Joshua fellowshipped with God. Joshua accompanied Moses to this Tent of Meeting and God spoke to Moses face to face.
Exodus 33:11
“And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.”
The expression “face to face” was a figurative expression suggesting openness and friendship with other people. Here, Moses was experiencing friendship and fellowship with God. It’s interesting that God spoke to Moses “as a man speaketh unto his friend.” True friends fellowship with one another. They enjoy each other’s company. They are two people that share things. They can laugh and cry together. Did you know that God wants to be your best friend? God spoke to Moses “as a man speaketh unto his friend.” God is not some kind of cosmic New Age force that is unrelated to us and uninterested in our lives. He speaks to our hearts today in simplicity wanting our fellowship. What a wonderful communion and companionship we can have with God when we know that God is with us. What strength we can receive for the daily grind when we truly know and experience that God is with us.
“What a fellowship,
What a joy divine
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness,
What a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.”
Dear friend, we can be released from fear when we learn the secret of staying in the tent where we can commune with God and draw upon His presence, power, and peace. It’s only then that we can be released from our fears. The tent is where we find God’s presence and fellowship. It’s the place where we find rest for our souls.
After Moses had heard from God, he left the Tent of Meeting and addressed the Israelite people. But verse Exodus 33:11 says that Joshua the young man "departed not out of the tabernacle." Why did he stay? Why didn’t he leave the tent? I believe that Joshua had a deep passion to be in God's presence. He desired to really know God and learn His ways. Above all, he wanted to know God's heart in matters that concerned him and the lives of his people. The text says that Joshua was “a young man.” Let me share something with the younger men. If a young man learns to practice the presence of God, to fellowship with Him and rely upon Him for everything that he needs in life, then he will experience true blessing and contentment in life. Young Christian men need to practice God’s presence and promise – “I am with thee” (Isa. 41:10)
This intimate connection that Joshua had with God and which he cultivated early in his training, served him well as he led the Israelites in their transition from wilderness wanderers to the Promised Land. Dear friend, have you left the tent? Have you left the presence of God? Life can be simpler for you if you would just practice the presence of God. Life can have meaning and purpose once again if you would practice the presence of God. Do you ever feel like God is remote or distant? Do you sometimes feel as though He is somewhere "out there" and not available to you? Joshua’s encounter with God in the tent reminds us that we don’t have to pass through life without experiencing God’s presence. Every Christian has the birthright and privilege to walk with God and experience freedom from the fears of life. If you hunger to know God, you can find Him through prayer, reading the Bible, and worship. God is there anxious to draw us into His presence. He is waiting for our worship.
Psalm 29:2
“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
Psalm 95:6
“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.”
We must practice the presence of God by worshipping Him and learning to enjoy His presence. Worship stills the fears that are seeking to choke out our spiritual lives. Yes, it's hard to worship when God seems distant, but God invites you to worship Him anyway.
Isaiah 55:6 says:
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”
We must take time to go into the tent and fellowship with God. We must seek out God and open our hearts to Him afresh and anew. If we are not careful we can begin to seek everything else in life but God’s presence and fellowship. We can try many other things and do other things but miss the real meaning and true purpose of life which is to worship God. Joshua went into the tent. When we daily discipline ourselves to worship and seek God’s face (even when we don't feel like it), we sometimes become aware of something we didn't notice before - God has been with us all the time!
“He was there all
the time,
He was there all the time,
Waiting patiently in line.
He was there all the time.”
The point is this. God’s abiding presence and spiritual provision for our lives can still the fears that seek to overtake us and destroy our effectiveness for the Lord. Let’s stop drowning ourselves in modern psychology, psychotherapy, and shrinks. The antidote for fear is God’s presence. God is with us! “I am with thee” (Isa. 41:10)
Psalm 46:11
“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
God is with us to help us to pass through the storms of life. He is with us to keep us still in the times of trouble. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God …” We must learn to relax in God’s sovereignty and find our all in all in Him. Dear friend, we must learn to practice the presence of God! We must experience God’s presence in our lives by depending totally and unreservedly upon the Lord for strength, peace, and joy during the storms of life. The presence of God brings hope in times of hopelessness and help in times of helplessness. God’s presence brings peace in times of peril and joy in times of jeopardy.
Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
There is a place of joy and quiet rest that is far away from the problems and perplexities that we face in life. It’s a place of joy, serenity, and peace that we can find only when we practice the presence of God and allow Him to still the fears in our hearts and lives.
“There is a quite place far from the rapid pace,
Where God can sooth my troubled life.
Sheltered by tree and flower,
There in my quiet hour with Him my cares are left behind.
Whether a garden small or on a mountain tall,
Your strength and courage there I find.
Then from this quiet place I go prepared to face,
A new day with love for all mankind.”
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee” (Isaiah 41:10).
c. The termination
When David’s life was about to be terminated on earth He still firmly believed that God’s presence was with him. He knew that God would never leave him to die alone. David knew that the Lord was with him even when he passed through the valley of the shadow of death.
Psalm 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
We must also experience God’s presence when we pass through the final valley of death’s shadow which leads to Heaven and the land of fadeless day and glory. David said that he would not fear when He was dying for He knew that God was with him. God’s presence can dispel the fear of dying and bring great calm and peace to the hearts of His redeemed.
“When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me thru the swelling current,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises I will ever give to Thee.
Songs of praises I will ever give to Thee.”
Have you ever witnessed someone dying? Have you ever seen them take their final breath? I have witnessed a good number of people die. I have observed how God is with His own people right up to the end of their journey on earth. I have personally witnessed Christians dying and experiencing the presence and peace of God in their lives. They died knowing that the Shepherd was with them. Dear friend, God will be with us when we pass from this life into the next life. He will be right there to give us comfort and grace when we are drawing our last few breaths. God will never leave us! God is with us. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee” (Isa. 41:10).
The hymn-writer wrote, "Change and decay in all around I see." Change and decay are the twin enemies that most people fear. When we are young change was a treat but as we grow older, change becomes a threat to our lives and well-being. However, when we pass through the fleeting days of our lives experiencing God’s wonderful presence we need not fear the change and decay that is taking place all around us and which is working within our own bodies (Rom. 8:23). “Fear thou not; for I am with thee.” This is God’s psychology and it still works. God is with us. You have God! What else do you need?
“Oftentimes I tried to live my life according to Thy will.
When darkness comes it’s difficult to rest and just be still.
But Lord You are my Shepherd who guides me in the way.
And I will learn this glorious truth, if I Your word obey.
You’re all I need. You’re the Lord of everything.
All I need, this is why I humbly sing.
Your strength is sustaining and Your grace has made me free.
You’re my heart’s long desire. You’re all I need.
You are all I will ever need.”
Do you really believe this? Is it true in your heart and life? Can you honestly say today, “Lord, You are all I need?”
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee” (Isaiah 41:10).
2. Extol God’s person (“I am thy God”)
This is the second part of the treatment that will cure fear. The text of Isaiah 41:10 goes on to say that “I am thy God.” This is the cure for all anxiety and fear. This is why we need not fear. God is God! God is God and God is on our side! It’s as if God is saying, “Remember who I am.” When we remember who God is (“I am God”) we will extol Him, or highly praise and magnify Him in our time of worship. This means we will reflect upon His greatness, His power, who He is, what He has done, and what He can do for our lives today. God is saying, “Don’t forget who I am. I am the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, immutable, and eternal God who can do anything, and everything.”
“For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37).
Jesus said in John 14:1:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
When we believe in God and remember who He is, it’s then that our fears can be dispelled. When we extol God and lift up His name in worship and wonder we will remember and reflect upon His greatness and glory. We will remember His power that can deliver us and free us from our fears. Reflecting upon God can calm the fears which have been running our lives. “I am God” (Isa. 41:10). Now that settles everything. What more do you need? “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). Now this should settle everything! Just reflect upon God and remember who He is and you will find deliverance from all your fears and anxieties. Will you just for a moment reflect upon God? We used to sing this song in a music group. It went like this.
“Who made the
mountains, who made the trees,
Who made the rivers flow to the sea,
And who sends the rain when the earth is dry,
Somebody bigger than you and I.
Who made the flower bloom in the spring,
Who made the song for the robin to sing,
And who hung the moon in the starry sky,
Somebody bigger than you and I.
He lights the way when the road is long,
And keeps you company.
With His love to
guide you,
He walks beside you,
Just like He walks with me.
When I am weary, filled with despair,
Who gives me courage to go on from there,
And who gives me faith that will never die,
Somebody bigger than you and I.”
Moses’ encounter with God reminds us who God is and what He can do in and through our lives. When we understand who God is and reflect upon His greatness we will remember that there is nothing He cannot do. Surely the great God of eternity and all creation can take away our fears.
God heard His people groaning in Egyptian bondage.
Exodus 2:24
“And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”
God knows when we are groaning and hurting in life. He knows everything about us. When we groan God promises to come to our rescue and deliver us. This is what He did for the children of Israel. God called Moses to be the instrument to deliver His people. Exodus 3:3 records the call, “Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.” Sometimes we must sit down, settle down, and stop speaking so God can speak to our hearts again. God wants to call us to some great task but we are too busy to hear His call. God was calling Moses to be the instrument to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage. However, the reply of Moses was similar to ours. Moses said, “I am insignificant.”
Exodus 3:11
“And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
This sounds reasonable. After all, Moses was a shepherd for 40 years in the wilderness. He was absent from Egypt and knew nothing about Egyptian politics. What could he, a mere shepherd in Midian, do? What can God do with a shepherd? What can God do with you? If we have enough faith we will discover what God can do through our lives. Moses concluded that he was not capable of doing this job since he was the small man at the bottom of the totem poll. He was just the little guy or the insignificant man who had no fame or fortune. He had no experience in these matters. But God reminded Moses, “Certainly I will be with thee” (Exod. 33:12). This is a key secret to living the Christian life and being delivered from our fears. We have seen this in the first point. God is with us to enable us to overcome our fears. But we also find a second cure for fear in this section of the Word of God. God reminds Moses who He is by stating something about Himself. Knowing who God is becomes a sure cure and antidote for fear.
Exodus 3:13-14
“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
God is declaring to Moses that He God. He is the self-existent God who has always existed from eternity past. The name Jehovah (more precisely Yahweh) comes from this Hebrew verb (hãyãh) which means “to be.” The name Jehovah reveals God’s eternal existence, His eternality. Therefore, “I AM” speaks of God’s eternal being and existence as the true God. God is not an effect. He is only a cause. In fact, He is the cause of everything. God is the uncaused cause of everything. This is because He is eternal in His existence and being. God had no beginning and He has no ending. He is the first and the last (Rev. 22:13).
Revelation 1:17
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.”
In other words, “Don’t fear, for I am the eternal God.” I am the great “I AM.” I have no beginning and no ending. I am everlasting. I am God. Yes, He is God! Extol Him. Worship Him. Believe in Him. Allow Him to deliver you from all your fears. The great “I AM” can sweep away your fears and give you a clean start in life. God was saying to Moses, “Don’t be afraid. I’m God! You will be able to do anything when I am on your side.” God is saying the same thing to us today in the time of fiery trial and testing. “I am thy God” (Isa. 41:10). This is what we need to remember in times of fear and distress. God is our God. The great eternal God, the creator and sustainer of the universe, the almighty God can certainly quiet our hearts and calm our fears. We must let God be God in our lives today! When we approach God in worship and extol Him for who He is and what He can do, fear does not stand a chance!
“Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting thou art God,
To endless years the same.”
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home!
Under the shadow of thy throne,
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.”
Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
I am God! I am God! Any questions? When we extol who God is in our time of worship we can immediately be released from our fears. Fear cannot stand up to the eternal God of the ages. He can deliver us from all of our fears if we will just allow Him to be God in our lives.
Someone said:
“Don’t tell God what you can’t do; just find out what He can do!”
3. Expect God’s power (“I will strengthen thee”)
This is the third part of the treatment that will cure fear. The text of Isaiah 41:10 goes on to say that God will strengthen us in the time of trouble and calamity. God’s divine strength will enable us to pass through the fiery trials and deep waters without fear overcoming our hearts and lives. Dear friend, unlimited strength is at our disposal. The believer can serve valiantly, endure patiently, suffer triumphantly, and, if need be, die gloriously. How can this be? It’s because God has promised to “strengthen” us in every trial that we face. There is no limit to God’s power.
Psalm 46:1-2
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”
There you have it! If you want to be delivered from fear then experience God’s shelter and strength in your life. This Psalm is for the “all shook up.” Have you ever felt this way in life? When you are in life’s pressure cooker God comes along and says, “I’ll be your shelter and strength. I’ll take away your fear.” Do we really believe in God’s power today? Do we really expect God to supply us with His endless supply of strength so we can be delivered from our fears?
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
How wonderful this is to realize and experience. We can be delivered from fear when we know that God is the strength of our life and experience His strengthening hand. Can you honestly say that God is the strength of your life today? Many times we go through life and we deprive ourselves of God’s strength and choose to live with fear instead of deliverance.
Alexander Maclaren said:
“Only he who can say, ‘The Lord is the strength of my life,’ can say, ‘Of whom shall I be afraid?’”
We need to learn the secret of tapping into God’s ever-present power which is available to us. When we forget God’s promise we become afraid and troubled in life. We become discouraged, dismayed, and deprived of our riches in Christ.
Deuteronomy 33:27 says:
“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms …”
“I feel the touch
of hands so kind and gentle,
They're leading me in paths that I must trod;
I have no fear when Jesus walks beside me,
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.
So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise,
They won't worry me for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God;
He walks with me and naught of earth can harm me,
Sheltered safe within the arms of God.”
Psalm 61:2
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
God is a strengthening rock to our lives. He sustains us by His strengthening grace when life seems unbearable, when our heart is broken, and when fear begins to find a place in our hearts. Perhaps you need to go to the rock that the Psalmist was talking about and meet God. Maybe the problem is this. You have not gone high enough (“the rock that is higher than I”) to find the real solution to living free from your fears. “I will strengthen thee” (Isa. 41:10).
2 Corinthians 9:8 says:
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”
God’s strengthening and sustaining grace is always available and always enough to see us through. All grace, all sufficiency, and all things! God is enough. He is everything we will ever need. His strengthening and sustaining grace will deliver us from fear.
“Far away the noise of strife upon my ear is falling,
Then I know the sins of earth beset on ev’ry hand;
Doubt and fear and things of earth in vain to me are calling,
None of these shall move me from Beulah Land.”
Fears won’t harm us in the next life, but they need not harm us in the present life, since God has said we can have a taste of Heaven on earth today (“as the days of heaven upon the earth” - Deut. 11:21). My friend, we don’t have to fear. Do you know why? It’s because God has promised to sustain us through each step of our journey. God will strengthen and sustain us. There is an endless supply and reservoir of God’s grace for our lives. Therefore, we don’t have to fear. Instead, we can be strengthened in the inner man and find peace instead of fear.
Ephesians 3:16
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.”
“When I have problems that I can’t bear,
That’s when I find my Savior standing there.
Holding my hand so I won’t fall,
He gives me the strength to stand up tall.
My God is able to meet your need,
He’ll hear your prayer if you will just believe.
He’ll take away all your doubts and fears;
He’ll help you to see your pathway clear.”
4. Embrace God’s promise (“I will help thee”)
This is the fourth part of the treatment that will cure fear from the text of Isaiah 41:10. What a promise this is to claim. The text goes on to say that God will help us in those times of distress and turmoil. God is never going to abandon us. Instead, He is going to help and assist our lives. God will help us pass through the valleys and climb the insurmountable mountains that are before us. God assists us by providing us with the peace, joy, strength, and patience that we need. He truly is our help.
God repeats this promise in Isaiah 41:13:
“For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”
Yes, God will hold our hand and keep us from developing those fears and anxieties that are related to this life. The expression of God’s hand means that He will take care of us and comfort or console our lives, so we don’t live in fear and defeat.
A father said that his little girl, who was much afraid of the dark, slept at night in a crib beside his bed. Often he had been wakened during the night by a little voice saying, "Papa, it's dark! It's dark, papa! Take Nellie's hand." And when, in answer, he had taken hold of the lifted hand, she sank quietly to sleep, all her fears being taken away. The remembrance of the pleading voice had often helped him to remember, in the midst of troubles and distress, that he, too, had a Father to whom he could lift his hand and say, "Father, it is dark! Take my hand."
The promise is given again in Isaiah 41:14:
“Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”
We don’t have to fear knowing that God will help sustain our lives during our trials. God has promised to never abandon Israel. In a similar way, He will never abandon us who are His children today. God will help us through life’s journey so that fear does not haunt our lives. God will be by our side when we pass through the storms of life. He will also keep us safe till the storm passes by.
Psalm 107:26-29
“They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”
“A shade by day, defense by night,
A shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes affright,
A shelter in the time of storm.”
Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
A very present help! This is the kind of help that we need. God is always there to assist us and see us through life’s changes and those challenging twists and unexpected turns that we experience along the road. He is a “very present help” in the times of distress and trouble. He is not far away and distant. He’s as close as the mention of His name! When we are in the straits God will be there to help us. God is with us for the entire journey and He has promised to help us through the deepest valleys. “I will help thee.”
Psalm 121:1-2
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”
William MacDonald makes this observation:
“The city of Jerusalem is situated on a mountain and is surrounded by mountains. So when a Jew in other parts of Israel needed divine help, he looked toward the hills. To him this was the same as looking to the Lord. Since the Creator’s dwelling was in the Jerusalem hills, there was a poetic sense in which all help came from the hills.”
Friend, if you are being overcome by fear then look unto the hills! Look up to God and know that the maker of the hills and the One who is higher than the hills can still your heart and calm your fears. Many people look to those things that are “below” (self-help tapes, recovery memory therapy, self-esteem) for deliverance instead of looking “above” to the hills of God for strength, courage, and deliverance from fear. If you are plagued with fear, look to the hills.
Someone wrote:
“Fear doesn't want you to make the journey to the mountain. If he can rattle you enough, fear will persuade you to take your eyes off the peaks and settle for a dull existence in the flatlands.”
Instead of being overcome by fear we must turn to God in the darkest times of life and trust in Him to help us face life’s greatest tests. This trust or simple faith comes from knowing God and knowing that He is able to deliver us. Job said, when experiencing some of the most difficult trials recorded in the Bible, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15)
Do we really trust God? Dear friend, once we have learned to put our trust in God, we will no longer be afraid of the things that come against us. God will be greater than our obstacles and greater than any problem that we might face. Therefore, we can walk by faith instead of fear. We can put our faith in His provision for our lives instead of being overtaken by fear. It has been said that “Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. But no one was there.” Yes, it takes faith in God’s promise who said, “I will help thee,” to overcome fear.
Psalm 56:3
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
There is simplicity to living the Christian life. We must remain simple in our faith. Fear cannot exist where there is faith.
Psalm 56:11
“In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”
D.L. Moody used to say, “You can travel to Heaven first-class or second-class. First-class is, ‘In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid.’ Second-class is, ‘What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.’” Well, it’s a natural human reaction and response to have fear. But we must immediately turn fear into faith. Faith in God’s power, provision, and purpose will still and quiet our fears.
“I trust in God, wherever I may be,
Upon the land or on the rolling sea.
For come what may, from day to day,
My Heavenly Father watches over me.
I trust in God, I know He cares for me,
On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea.
Tho billows roll, He keeps my soul.
My Heavenly Father watches over me.”
God’s provision and help is constant and sure if we will just reach out in faith and trust Him to supply our every need. God says, “I will help thee” (Isa. 41:10). However, we must trust in His provision and accept it by faith. The Lord is our helper. This is His unfailing promise. Let us claim it and live by it on a daily basis. When life becomes more than we can bear, we can know that God is ready to help, by providing us with the peace, power, and the patience we need to face life’s demands.
Our simple child-like faith in God and His promise will dispel the fears that are constantly defeating your spiritual life. Remember, if you walk by faith you will not walk in fear.
“Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But his smile quickly drives it away,-
Not a doubt nor a fear,
Not a sigh nor a tear
Can abide while we trust and obey.”
The presence of God in our lives today is experienced through Jesus Christ, who lives within us to help us, and to provide us with everything that we will ever need for life and godliness.
Philippians 4:19
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Our needs in life are met through Christ’s vast resources (Col. 2:10), through His infinite wisdom (Col. 2:3), through His loving heart (Rom. 8:35), and through our union with Him (John 15:1-5). God will certainly help us and supply our every need through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is enough to still the fears in our hearts and lives and provide us with the constant help and companionship that we need to overcome our fear and anxiety.
JESUS IS ENOUGH
By Wendy Greiner Lefko
“When life is not what I want it to be,
When troubles surround me like the waves of the sea,
When just getting by is a struggle for me,
JESUS IS ENOUGH.
When despair and confusion are on every hand,
When all I receive are complaints and demands,
When friends and dear loved ones can’t understand,
JESUS IS ENOUGH.
When human compassion seems to fall short,
When no one can offer lasting support,
When hopelessness seems the only resort,
JESUS IS ENOUGH.
When health and prosperity fail to abide,
When the gap between good times is too far and wide,
When a sea could be filled with the tears that I’ve cried,
JESUS IS ENOUGH.
When loneliness, heartache, and trouble abound,
When joy and contentment can’t seem to be found,
When the “bluebird of happiness” won’t make a sound,
JESUS IS ENOUGH.
Jesus is enough for all my cares and woes
Jesus is enough, for only Jesus knows.
Jesus is enough, He’ll bear it all for me;
Jesus is enough to calm my troubled sea.
Jesus is enough, He’ll carry all the pain;
Jesus is enough to make me smile again.
Jesus is enough when nothing else is right;
Jesus is enough to fill my darkest night.
Jesus is enough to make the sorrow cease;
Jesus is enough to fill my heart with peace.
Jesus is enough, He knows my every need;
Jesus is enough, His little lamb He’ll feed.
Jesus is enough for all I must go through;
If Jesus is enough for me,
He’ll be enough for you!”
5. Enjoy God’s perseverance (“I will uphold thee”)
This is the fifth and final part of the treatment that will cure fear. The text of Isaiah 41:10 finally states that God “will uphold thee” with what He calls the “right hand of my righteousness.” In other words, Christ always does what is right. Whatever He does is in accordance with His righteous standard and will. Now the great blessing is this. Each one of us as His children can enjoy God’s persevering hand operating within our daily lives. Let’s not miss this beloved truth. God perseveres through us (“I will uphold thee”). In other words, God will keep us from falling.
Jude 1:24
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”
The only way we can stay spiritually healthy is to allow God to uphold us and keep our lives from being overcome with fear and anxiety. We can’t live the Christian life. We can’t experience freedom from fear without God persevering in and through our lives (“I will uphold thee”). It’s God’s hold on us that keeps us spiritually healthy and stable in life. His personal presence and power will drive away the fears, enable us to live on a higher plane, give us something worth living for, and make our life count for God.
In the present order God promises to manifest His presence and power to His children in a unique fashion.
Philippians 2:13
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Today God works on the inside of His children. Christianity is an inside outside job. God is working! God is working on the inside of us! God is working within us so we might follow His holy plan and purpose for our lives. God’s nature and life operating within the present-day Christian gives him the incentive, determination or “will” to obey His commands. God’s indwelling life also enables the Christian “to do” or practice His commands. We have the complete package. Yes, He is able to deliver thee! He can deliver you from fear. In fact, He can keep you from being overcome with fear. You see, it’s God persevering through us that gives us a new determination and power to live free from fear.
It’s God’s life operating within us that enables us to live free from dismay and depression. It takes the inward work of God to drive out fear, change our heart, and redirect our path. One thing is certain. God is at work in our lives and He wants to keep us spiritually fit for the Christian journey. He does this by enabling us to live free from the plaguing fears of the past, present and future and keeps us from living in spiritual defeat. “I will uphold thee.” God will keep us from going to the dogs. He will keep us from falling into the pit of despair and depression that stems from fear and anxiety.
Philippians 1:6 gives this wonderful promise:
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
God promises that He will continue to persevere and work in our lives until His Son returns for us in the Rapture. The good work of salvation from sin’s penalty (our past salvation experience) was only the beginning of our salvation. The Bible also teaches that God continues to operate in our lives on a daily basis delivering and saving our lives from sin (our present salvation experience).
Augustus M. Toplady wrote:
“The work which His goodness began,
The arm of His strength will complete;
His promise is Yea and Amen,
And never was forfeited yet.”
God is still working on all of us and will continue to perform His sanctifying work in our lives. This is His promise. God promises that He will keep working to change us and transform us into the likeness of His Son. Of course, we can limit God’s sanctifying work in our lives when we fail to rely on God’s indwelling presence and persevering life within (Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19). However, Paul was sure that God would continue to do a great work in the lives of these saints in light of their generous gift that was given to him already. Dear friend, it is no secret what God can do! It is no secret what God can do when we yield to His indwelling personal presence and say, “Lord, help me.” It’s at this point that God comes to our aid and says, “I will uphold thee” (Isa. 41:10).
Someone once said:
“Security is our nearness to God, not our distance from danger.”
There will always be dangers but our security comes from God’s promise which says, “I will uphold thee.”
One day in July, a farmer sat in front of his shack, smoking his corncob pipe. Along came a stranger who asked, "How's your cotton coming?" "Ain't got none," was the answer. "Didn't plant none. I’m afraid of the boll weevil." "Well, how's your corn?" “Didn't plant none. I’m afraid of a drought.” "How about your potatoes?" "Ain't got none. I’m scared of the tater bugs." The stranger finally asked, "Well, what did you plant?" "Nothin'," answered the farmer. "I just played it safe."
There are many Christians who live like this farmer. They live with daily fears and never really can be used of God. They fear what could or might happen. They fear the unknown. They fear the future.
Someone said:
“Don't fear tomorrow; God is already there.”
God’s children can possess fears related to their past lives, present circumstances, and future plans.
It has been said:
“We crucify ourselves between two thieves: regret for yesterday and fear of tomorrow.”
God’s children can be spiritually defeated by fears. Fear robs of joy, peace, contentment and the true blessing we can have in the Christian life. Yes, fear and dismay can dominate or control our lives. However, we have seen from this study that God can deliver every Christian from the fears that are haunting their lives. God’s children do not have to live with plaguing fear. The treatment or cure for fear is not complicated. Better yet, it’s free!
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear thou not (don’t be afraid); for I am with thee (experience God’s presence): be not dismayed; for I am thy God (extol God’s person): I will strengthen thee (expect God’s power); yea, I will help thee (embrace God’s promise); yea, I will uphold thee (enjoy God’s perseverance) with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Don’t be afraid!
“There’s within my heart a melody
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,
In all of life’s ebb and flow.”