"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." (NIV)
What is God saying?
We can confidently face any obstacles in life, because God is on our side, supporting us and helping us through it all.
What is God saying to us today?
Every time we turn on the news, we come across more and more things that make us afraid and worried - disastrous hacking scandals, horrible political policies, untreatable illness epidemics. And there's plenty more things to fear in our personal lives - broken relationships, insufficient finances, deteriorating health. Unfortunately, none of us get to experience life unscathed by these things. Some of us have more difficulties than others, but we all have things that bring fear and stress into our lives. While God doesn't promise that He will prevent His followers from experiencing hardships, He does clearly and repeatedly promise that He be with us every step of the way and see us through our times of difficulty.
What is God inviting us to do?
Are you frozen in fear? Is stress and worry threatening to overwhelm you? God invites us to grab hold of His hand, and allow Him to guide us through whatever it is we are facing. And when our hand is in His, we don't have to be afraid or anxious, because we know that we will be okay in the end.