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.’
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.’
Throughout scripture God tells us not to fear or to be anxious. We are told, in this verse, that we are to do this based on the fact that He is God. God promises us that He will strengthen us, help us and uphold us. God is the creator, the great healer, the complete provider and so much more. His power and strength is limitless. But the main difference that we find with God is His method of showing this strength. Man wants to show strength in self glorification, but God shows strength in weakness.
This is one of the reasons why the Lord Jesus was rejected. The Jews and many others were expecting a powerful deliverer, mounted on an awe-inspiring white horse coming from the heavens to make life truly astounding. Instead God gave an infant baby, born in a foul stable, who lived as a servant. He only showed love and compassion for others. People still rejected Him and ultimately killed Him. Many gathered to receive His gifts of food and healing, but most rejected His love and His plea for repentance.
Why should we not fear? Why should we not be dismayed or anxious? This is all wrapped up in trust. When we have a simple trust in God, there is no situation which we cannot overcome with His power. Those who have not trusted Christ as Savior have no idea what gentle strength is. This is because they do not possess the Spirit of God.
Christ was condemned and hated because He showed such a gentle response. But, it takes much more strength to show gentleness and trust when responding to others. Responding in the natural is far easier. We all know that it takes far greater strength to bite our tongue than to speak our thoughts. It is much more difficult to trust the Lord and stand firm in temptation, than it is to yield to that temptation. Turning the other cheek is far more difficult than responding the way we may want to. Is it easier to trust in the Lord or to worry about our circumstances, during a long trial?
It was because of His unshakeable trust in the Father that the Lord Jesus was able to not revile when accused of horrendous falsehoods. Because of this trust He could pray, while being crucified, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”, (Luke 23:34, NKJV).
This principle takes a lifetime to learn. But, as we learn to trust God more and more throughout different situations, we will be able to have a greater rest in His strength and wisdom. Once we realize that God will fight the battle for us, we then can rest in Him and let Him fight for us. The battle will no longer be in our minds, but it will be in the Lord’s hands.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
Jesus was always gently to the Children but it came to those that support and lived in the evil one, he was direct and stern. He was no wimp to that, which posed danger to the Kingdom.
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