God’s Strength Eliminates Fear and Worry
Devotional Contributor: Brandon Gency
Scripture:
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Observation:
As a young child, I was afraid of heights. One year my parents planned a family trip to Cedar Point and I was determined to not ride any roller coasters. At some point my dad persuaded me to go with him and I ended up loving it! Looking back, the only reason I got on the roller coaster was because of who I was going with. I trusted my dad and knew he wouldn't let anything happen to me. This Bible verse gives us good news when it comes to fear. God is telling us not to be afraid. We don’t have to be afraid, because we can trust that God has our best interest in mind. We know that God will strengthen us and help us in each situation that we face. We have someone who knows the future and the past, who has unlimited wisdom and resources. When we realize God is on our side and He wants to walk with us through the highs and lows of life, we can see why He tells us to not be afraid. God will not let us down, so we have no reason to be afraid.
Application:
To live a life without fear means we trust God and His plan for our life. Trusting God in hard times means believing He has a plan and knows infinitely more than we do. Biblical characters who overcame the storms in their life all had one thing in common, a faith in God and an obedience to His Word. Before we can wholeheartedly trust God, we must first know who He is. Deepening the roots of our relationship with God means spending time with Him each day. Setting aside quality time with God will allow us to break free from the chains of fear, and begin living the life God called us to live.
Request:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your desire to help us. Thank you for being a good, good Father. We come before you and lay down all our fears and anxieties. Teach us to enjoy every moment in life, and not be afraid of what the future may hold. I pray for your strength to be present in the lives of the ISI community. Please reveal to us when we begin putting our trust in anything other than you. Remind us Father that You must become greater and we must become less.