VOTW | Isaiah 41:10 - Ever Present Help

Good morning Gems (& Gents)!

This past weekend has been insane in both a good and scary way. I experienced something frightening, but in that situation I felt a sense of peace and contentment that I'd never would have experienced before if my relationship with God wasn't where it is now. As I was thinking of a verse for this week, I came across this one from the book of Isaiah and I knew this was it:

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.

Such a small, yet powerful verse. This is a command and a promise from our Father whether we are in times of despair or in seasons of gladness. Though told this to the people of Israel, this verse is still true to His children today.

Let's start off by breaking down some of the words in this verse shall we:

• Fear: the Hebrew word is yare' meaning to cause to frighten (affright); to make or be afraid; dreadful.
• Dismayed: Hebrew word is shaah meaning to look away; turn your gaze away.
• Strengthen: Hebrew word is amets meaning to be stout, strong, bold, alert; to establish, fortify, harden, increase or prevail.
• Uphold: Hebrew word is tamak meaning to grasp, support; to follow closely; to help.
• Righteous: Hebrew word is tsedeq meaning rightness; of God as covenant-keeping, in redemption.

I got the definitions from the text analysis on Bible Hub which gives the Strong's Hebrew and Greek definitions for every word in the Bible by verse. Here is the one for this verse. With a better understanding of these words in their original language (Hebrew), let's now breakdown this verse...

The verse begins with a command "fear not" and if an all powerful, sovereign, loving God tells us not to fear and we do does it become a sin? Maybe so, maybe not. However, the point is He is telling us not to fear which means we should take Him at His Word and have faith in Him no matter. Yes fear is normal human reaction to the unknown, but we are not wallow in that fear. We have a God who created all things and knows all. Fear is a hindrance to us no matter what the circumstance. The Bible tells us 365 times not to fear, so that tells us how serious God is about us being fearful. Joshua 1:9 tells us "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." When you face a problem or something unknown do you become fearful? If so, how do you deal with that fear?

Now though He commands us not fear He doesn't leave us hanging. He immediately gives us a promise "for I am with you" that makes us being fearful unnecessary. He is ever present, ever helping, always loving and constantly protecting us. Even when it seems like times are hard, God is there. Romans 8:31 tells us "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" It's true, that we are prone to discouragement and fear when we are alone, but truth of the matter is we are never alone. God is never far from us, it's just our own imagination. Do you realize that God is always with you, by your side in ALL that you go through in EVERY aspect?

The command goes on to say "be not dismayed" meaning we have no reason to turn away from Him or our circumstances because He clearly tells us "for I am Your God" which means our God is bigger than everything and anything on this earth. We don't need to look in the opposite direction, rather we need to stare at and move head first with confidence because the God we serve is Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Nissi, El Shaddai, Elohim and many other names we call Him. Just read Deuteronomy 31:8 which says, "And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." Do you understand that God is your God? Do you understand who the God you serve truly is?

 God goes on to say "I will strengthen you" which means we need not rely on our own strength to get through or deal with things. Even when it comes to enduring the things in this life. Our strength will leave is weak, depleted, vulnerable. His strength will suffice, sustain and keep us. His strength is our true source of everything, but that means we need to 1) cling to Him, 2) rely solely on Him 3) allow Him to strengthen us and 4) be vulnerable in His presence. Ephesians 6:10 (ESV) tells us not to use our strength, but that of God's which becomes our own, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." Where does your strength leave you compared to where and what God's strength does for you?

Our loving Father continues by saying "yes I will help you" and I mean what more can you want for Him to say. Not only will He be your strength, but He will also help you in whatever you need help in. His strength and glory make Him able to help us, but it is His love that makes Him say that He will help us. Psalm 46:1 is an awesome reminder of this, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Have you ever been helped by God? If so, do you realize that His help is out of love and not duty?

God ends off His promise by saying "I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." If you don't know, the right hand is where God's power is and it's where the Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, sits. That same hand sustains and keeps us lifted. We can never truly fall, even when we feel like we hit rock bottom and can't get up God still holds us up. We just need recognize, acknowledge and accept His hand to keep us upright. Don't believe that? Even David said so in Psalm 63:8, "My soul follows close behind you; Your right hand upholds me." Do you find yourself forgetting that He keeps and sustains you at your worse and at your very best equally?

To end, I leave you with a few more encouraging scriptures about our Father who is ever present in our lives:

"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?"

- Psalm 27:1 NKJV

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for Yah, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation."

- Isaiah 12:2 NKJV

"For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'fear not, I will help you.'"

- Isaiah 41:13 NKJV

"...and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen."

 - Matthew 28:20 NKJV

I pray that you have come to a better understanding of the God you serve and His ever present help in every aspect of your life.

Weekly Dare

This week I want you to think of the smallest thing you can and think of how God helped you in that. Contrasting that, think about the biggest or hardest thing this week and see how He helped you in that. Give thanks to Him in helping you all that takes place in your life.

Blessings,