#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.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
As long as I can remember I have been afraid, afraid of storms, afraid of my family drowning, or losing them in an auto accident, always fearful of what might happen next. In 1984 a godly mentor encouraged me to find a verse that I could claim as my “life-verse”. She said it needed to be something I needed and could cling to, so my search began. It seemed like I was drawn to the “fear not” verses and when I began to read Isaiah 41, where the Lord was speaking to Israel about how other nations tried to do what only the Lord could do. Then in verses 8-9 he says, “But you, O Israel…You are my servant, I have chosen you…” and in verse 10 he tells them to not be afraid. I needed to hear this. I needed someone who could not only tell me to not be afraid, but to back it up with comfort in knowing that fear does not have a hold on me, because of Him.
We live in very troublesome times, whether it is grief, job loss, or just the anxiety of life in general, but I know that I can simply get away from the noise of the world and repeat this verse. I committed it to memory many years ago and realize that I do not have to fear, because He is my God. He chose me. What comfort it is to know that the Lord, the God of the Universe, chose me! He came to me, reached out to me, and redeemed me. Some days I need strength to get through the day, and He strengthens me. Sometimes life is hard and when I cannot seem to get this verse out of my mouth and I don’t know what to do, it comes. The strong Righteous Right Hand of my loving Father. I realize in my despair, when I am prone to think all is lost, He is holding me, Isaiah 41:10 is a promise. A promise that is ours, we simply have to claim it.
Debbie Sisk is an Executive Assistant who lives in Hazel Green, Alabama. She has kept a prayer/personal journal or diary most of her life, but has journaled daily for the last 22 years. In that time she lost her mother, her mother-in-law, and became the grandmother of one granddaughter and four grandsons. Their lives have been literally recorded!
Defying Shadows 