Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
“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.”
Recently my son had a nightmare and rushed to our room in the middle of the night. He stood trembling in the doorway and said, “Mamma, I had a scary dream.” I lifted the edge of my comforter to welcome him under the covers with me. He crawled in and I felt how tense his muscles were and how his pulse was racing. “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked. Sometimes he does, but this time he shook his head no. “I’m afraid if I go back to sleep the dream will come back,” he said. But as he snuggled in beside me, breathing slowed and I felt his body start to relax. I kissed his head and whispered, “You are loved and you are safe.” I could feel the peace return to his body as he fell back to sleep.
So many of the verses that tell us not to fear also tell us how such a feat could be possible. The promise of God’s presence with us is like the fear antidote. There is no promise here that our circumstances will be changed and all the problems solved. Read the rest of Isaiah 41 to put this verse into context. God is reminding his people of who He is. The repetition of the phrases, “I am…” and “I will…” is enough for any English teacher to circle them in red ink with the reminder to add a little variety. But God doesn’t want variety here. He alone is in focus, and when we truly remember who He is, a reminder of His presence is enough to evict fear from our hearts.
Try reading this verse as though you are hearing one side of a phone call. Let’s add in the other side.
Me: I’m afraid of so many things right now.
God: Do not fear, for I am with you.
Me: But there’s so much uncertainty and it feels like all I hear lately is bad news.
God: Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
Me: That’s easier to say than to do. I don’t know how to trust right now. What if someone I love gets sick and dies? What if I can’t continue to provide for my family?
God: I will strengthen you and help you.
Me: Ok, but I’m so weary already. I don’t know if I can keep going.
God: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
That night when Peter came to me in fear, I didn’t take away the circumstances that caused his fear, and I couldn’t guarantee that when he went back to sleep, the dream wouldn’t return. All I offered him was my presence as a loving parent. And with the trust of a child, this was enough. I want to learn from him. The next time I am struck by fear, I want to run to my loving Father and imagine him lifting the corner of the blanket as He welcomes me to come closer. I want to hear him whisper, “Do not fear, for I am with you,” as peace returns to my body and I rest again in his presence.
Moment of Beauty:
There is healing to be found in beauty. For today’s moment of beauty, reflect on this artwork by David Bowman and the description of it, written by the artist:
“This piece conveys an intimate, up-close-and-personal feeling of the Savior’s love. Notice how all the lines draw your attention and point towards Jesus’ face in the center. I chose the name “My Child” because the only thing that could compare (even remotely) to Christ’s compassion for us is the love of a parent for his/her child. This image is also intended to put things in perspective. Above all, we are God’s children first. He allows us the privilege of experiencing parenthood for ourselves and we are entrusted to be the mothers and fathers of His children here on earth.”
Artwork used with permission from David Bowman. See more of his work on Instagram and Facebook.