Isaiah 41:10 - Fear Not!
Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) Fear not, for I am with
you; 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.
COMMENTARY PEARL
My three teenage boys are constantly
trying to talk me into watching scary movies. I
will have none of it. I get anxious enough
watching the news. There are enough things to be
scared about in this world without watching
terrifying cinema.
The older I get, the easier it is to give
in to fear. Fear. Such a small word with such
an enormous impact. It fills up the fissures of
our hearts and the nooks and crannies of our
minds. Fear will take up any and all space that we
give it in our lives. I know this because I have
battled with it for so long. But the truth is? There
is one person who has conquered fear. His name
is Jesus, and He has an alternative to living
scared. He invites us to live out our lives with Him
surrounded by His love. When we crack open
the door to Jesus and His love? His love
shatters fear. Love. Such a small word has such an
enormous impact. The more that His love occupies the
fissures in our hearts and nooks and crannies of our
minds, the less scary life seems. This is because
we are not alone. Ever. Jesus will take up any
and all space that we give Him in our lives. His
words calm the chatter of anxiety and regret. His
power emboldens the faintest of heart and gives
strength to the weary. His voice thunders out across
the universe, Dont be afraid! Do you hear
me? I am right here! by Susanna Foth Aughtmon
Faith Step: Fear can overwhelm you if you
let it. Name your fears out loud to Jesus. Ask
Him to show you His love at work in your life.
[Mornings With Jesus 2020 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
I have been dealing with a situation that
I definitely don't want to deal with anymore,
and this morning, as that same situation
presented itself once again, I felt fear grip my
heart. The next thing that happened was God
interrupting my misery and reminding me that fear is the
worst thing I can do. Why? Because fear says I am
not sure that God is with me and I don't know if
He will help me; therefore, I have to try and
handle the situation on my own and I have no idea
what to do.
There are numerous places in the Word of
God that simply read, "Fear not, for I am with
you." God doesn't say what He is going to do or
when He will do it; He simply wants it to be
sufficient that He is with us, and knowing that, we
should be able to trust that all things will turn
out well in the end.
We can do all things through Christ who
is our strength (see Philippians 4:13), but we
have to keep reminding ourselves of that fact
when we feel weary and overburdened. "I will not
fear is the believer's only proper response to
fear. The next time fear knocks on your door,
answer with faith. Know that God loves you and that
He is with you and He has a plan even if you
don't know what it is.
Father, I know that fear will knock on my
door, and when it does, let me answer with
courage. Make me fully aware of Your presence at all
times and let that be enough to overcome fear. [My
Time with God by Joyce Meyer]
ILLUSTRATION
No Fear
Nighttime is the best time to hunt for
krill and fish in Antarctic waters, the main food
of penguins. So it makes sense that penguins
should fish at night. But penguins hunt for food
only during the day, when it is actually harder
to catch their food. David Ainley and Grant
Ballard published a June 2011 report in the journal
Polar Biology concluding that the danger of
predators prevents penguins from entering the water at
night. Leopard seals, their main enemies, sleep
during the day.
It seems that most animals have a fear of
one type or another, though silverback gorillas,
elephants, and hippos may show no fear, and such top
predators as lions and tigers will appear fearless.
Perhaps they exhibit less fear because they have
more control. Fear is most often associated with
the loss of control - one reason that people
become especially fearful after earthquakes or
tornadoes or terrorist attacks. Big animals and top
predators seem to have more mastery over their lives.
Prey species, being weaker, have to use their
wits and develop strategies (such as hunting
during the day) to survive.
One experimental psychologist tested the
concept of fear and control in rats this way. She
sounded a tone and then shocked the feet of rats.
Half of the rats had a ledge they could step on
that turned off the shock in one second - a way
of controlling the situation. The others
didn't. Later, just playing the tone would elicit
fear in the rats without control much more than
in those who had the control.
Therapists who work with fear and phobias
in humans have learned that exposure therapy or
systematic desensitization, a form of cognitive
behavioral therapy, is quite effective in calming
fears. Clients start off by talking about their
fears in the safety of the office. Later they
visit frightening situations accompanied by the
therapist who can help them realize their fears are
unfounded and irrational. My God is big enough,
powerful enough, and wise enough to control each and
every situation. By staying close to Him and
trusting Him fully, I need not fear.
Lord, You are my light and my salvation -
whom shall I fear? You are the stronghold of my
life - of whom shall I be afraid? [God of Wonders
by David Steen]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Do not fear, for I am with you. I will
uphold you with My righteous right hand. Let these
words enfold you like a warm blanket, sheltering
you from the coldness of fear and
discouragement. When trouble seems to be stalking you, grip
My hand tightly and stay in communication with
Me. You can trust and not be afraid, for I am
your Strength and Song. My powerful Presence is
with you always. You face nothing alone!
Moreover, I have promised to strengthen you and help
you.
My strong hand supports you in both good
times and bad. When things are going well in your
life, you may not be attentive to My sustaining
Presence. But when you are walking through the valley
of the shadow of death, you become keenly aware
of your neediness. During these difficult
times, holding onto Me keeps you standing - and
able to put one foot in front of the other. As
you endure this adversity patiently - in
trusting dependence on Me - I bless you with abundant
Joy in My Presence. (Isa. 41:10; 12:2; Psa.
23:4) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
Hold My hand - and trust. So long as you
are conscious of My Presence with you, all is
well. It is virtually impossible to stumble while
walking in the Light with Me. I designed you to
enjoy Me above all else. You find the deepest
fulfillment of your heart in Me alone.
Fearful, anxious thoughts melt away in
the Light of My Presence. When you turn away
from Me, you are vulnerable to the darkness that
is always at work in the world. Don't be
surprised by how easily you sin when you forget to
cling to My hand. In the world, dependency is seen
as immaturity. But in My kingdom, dependence on
Me is a prime measure of maturity. (Isa. 41:10;
Psa. 62:5, 6) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I am training you in steadiness. Too many
things interrupt your awareness of Me. I know that
you live in a world of sight and sound, but you
must not be a slave to those stimuli. Awareness
of Me can continue in all circumstances, no
matter what happens. This is the steadiness I
desire for you.
Don't let unexpected events throw you off
course. Rather, respond calmly and confidently,
remembering that I am with you. As soon as something
grabs your attention, talk with Me about it. Thus
I share your joys and your problems; I help
you cope with whatever is before you. This is
how I live in you and work through you. This is
the way of Peace. (Psalm 112:7; Isa. 41:10)
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
The world is too much with you, My child.
Your mind leaps from problem to problem to
problem, tangling your thoughts in anxious knots.
When you think like that, you leave Me out of
your world-view and your mind becomes darkened.
Though I yearn to help, I will not violate your
freedom. I stand silently in the background of your
mind, waiting for you to remember that I am with
you.
When you turn from your problems to My
Presence, your load is immediately lighter.
Circumstances may not have changed, but we carry your
burdens together. Your compulsion to "fix"
everything gives way to deep, satisfying connection
with Me. Together we can handle whatever this day
brings. (Isa. 41:10; Zep. 3:17; Psa. 34:19) [Jesus
Calling by Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Isaiah 41:10 - God's Empowering Presence.
(updated)
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2013/20130927-1737.html
1 John 4:18 - Love and Fear Don't Mix!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180622-1000.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor
(live now): https://www.revelationnow.com/
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (recent):
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
