“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:13).
Some fear is normal and can keep us from doing things we shouldn’t. But letting fear dictate our lives can stymie us and stop us from learning and growing and encountering all that God wants us to experience in life.
The prophet Isaiah records God’s words to God’s people, both for those who were alive back then and for us now. God knows that sometimes we will be scared—like when a big change in life happens, when we experience something new or different, or when we are faced with uncertainty.
Whenever we are afraid, God is holding our hand and helping us. God reminds us that fear does not have the last word. No matter what happens, God is right there with us.
May we be reminded that in fearful times, God is always with us and says to us: “Do not fear, I will help you.”
This message is excerpted from “Fear” by Becca Ehrlich from the September 30, 2022, blog of the Women of the ELCA.
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