SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 41
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. [Isaiah 41:13]
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” [Matthew 14:29-31]
This picture of Jesus reaching out His hand to Peter to help him is what comes to mind when I hear God’s words of encouragement in Isaiah 41.
Imagine Peter, afraid and sinking, reaching out to a stone idol… it would only help him sink faster.
This is God’s point in this chapter, only He can help them because He is the eternal God.
Only He stands above and beyond the flux of time, and is able to anchor us against the storms.

Many people have found comfort in this image, of our hand in His, His hand in ours.
“Precious Lord, take my hand!” “Put your hand in the hand of the man Who stilled the waters!”
Our problem… my problem… is that we cling to the wrong things for help.
When things get tough, when things get scary, we panic and struggle and try to save ourselves… and sink.
I once heard an illustration of this, how a lifeguard is better off waiting for a drowning person to almost drown before helping them, otherwise the person’s thrashing and splashing will drown them both.
Its not until we stop thrashing and splashing and give ourselves over to the one that is able to help us, that we can experience His help.

According to Isaiah 41, God is working out history and circumstances for His purposes.
Even foreign powers are under His control, so when things look scary, or the world seems to be crashing, look to the Lord and hear Him say: For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. [Isaiah 41:13]
Do not fear, I will help you.
I am swamped by demands and expectations, my day is overfull and I cannot stay on top of everything… do not fear, I will help you.
I am assaulted by fears and doubts, my mind is my worse enemy as I imagine all the worst case scenarios… do not fear, I will help you.
The devil is working overtime to distract or discourage me… do not fear, I will help you.
Today I will use these words to help me through whatever comes… do not fear, I will help you.
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. [Isaiah 41:10]

PRAYER:
Lord, today I choose to not give in to fear; rather I will put up my hand every time I struggle with fear or doubt or distraction or discouragement and repeat these words: I will not fear, for You will help me!