#FEARLESS365 is a yearlong study of God’s commandment to us to live without fear. For 365 days, we will focus on one scripture and volunteers from all over the world will share their personal thoughts and what God has shared with them on the specific verse. For more info… go here.
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
As I read Isaiah 41:13, the first words I read suggest that God often begins in relationship with me by reminding me who He is. He is the Lord. When I ponder the word
Lord, I think of words such as master, ruler, and king. I envision a leader who has authority over me.
As I continue with this verse, I experience personal relationship. He is MY God and takes hold of my hand. In general, the only people who hold my hand are those I know intimately. When I place my hand in someone else’s, I do so for a couple of reasons. I hold hands with my husband and children demonstrating affection and connection. I sometimes reach for their hands for comfort or help.
Two hands grasped together demonstrate mutual trust. When I envision the God
of the universe holding my right hand, I feel safe and secure. I also feel protected from
evil and empowered to do what I cannot do on my own.
As I walk with the Lord and listen, He commands me not to fear. As a professional counselor, I walk beside adults, teens and children battling the emotion of fear and anxiety regularly. Fears of rejection, suffering, loss, humiliation, and failure can easily invade our minds, damage our hearts, and begin to take over our bodies so intensely that we feel we loss of control as our hearts and minds race. Peace appears unattainable.
Providing them with Biblical truth to renew their minds, coping skills to help them release the emotional energy that invades their bodies, and encouragement of God’s promises for tomorrow often empowers people to manage and walk through difficult times. One of God’s promises that I find very empowering is found at the end of this verse.
I will help you. I can walk with confidence as I face my own life struggles and walk beside those who face hardship because God is my ultimate helper and His Holy Spirit
dwells in me.
Michelle Nietert, M.A., LPC-S is Professional Counselor, Speaker, Author and the Clinical Director of Community Counseling Associates from the Dallas, Texas area. I love traveling and went to Paris fulfilling a lifelong dream. I also love lazy days by the pool with a good book.
Defying Shadows 