So this past week has been a rough one for me. I have faced many hard circumstances that are so interwoven together that I found myself feeling quite overwhelmed. Well, this morning I was journaling during my prayer time, pouring out my fears and concerns before the Lord, and the Spirit brought this verse to my mind. In normal “Karen form”, I dove into a word study to get out of it all I could. I NEEDED help, and if this verse was what God gave to help me, I wasn’t gonna waste one word of it.
“Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
~~ISAIAH 41:10~~
God gives us two commands and three “why’s” in this verse. Let’s break them down that way.
THE COMMANDS
DO NOT FEAR. <Yare’> is the Hebrew word used for “fear”, and it means to be affright (sudden and great fear) or to dread (alarm, panic). Note that in the dictionary, the antonym of “fear” is assurance. Because fear and assurance are opposites, they can’t dwell in the same heart at the same time. A person has to choose one or the other.
God is saying, “Don’t allow your circumstances to cause
a lack of assurance that you’re safe with me.”
DO NOT ANXIOUSLY LOOK ABOUT YOU. <Sha’ah> is the word used for this Hebrew command, and it means to gaze about for help/aid.
God is saying, “Don’t look anywhere but to ME for help
when you are experiencing hard times.”
PAUSE TO PONDER. When you look at the commands above in light of our emotions, you may be wondering how in the world you will be able to obey them. Well, if we filter our obedience through our own ability, it would be impossible. BUT we serve a God who commands and then enables obedience. The only missing link is between the command and His enablement is our submission to the working of His Spirit within us. We are human and will have fearful and anxious thoughts. There’s no doubt about that. But that’s why God gave us passages like 2 Corinthians 10:5 – “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” When someone is taken captive, it doesn’t mean they no longer exist, but that they don’t have the freedom to move about freely as they wish.
You can have a feeling without the feeling having you.
THE WHY’S
Because God says…
I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU. <’Amats> is the Hebrew word for “strengthen” and it means: to be alert mentally and have courage; to be of a strenuous mind. Hmmmm…When I think of “strenuous”, I don’t think of the “mind”, but rather of taxing physical activity. But if God is saying He will give me a “strenuous mind”, then I wanna make sure I know what that word means. The dictionary defines “strenuous” as vigorously active; energetic; marked by energy/stamina. So what God is saying here is that I don’t have to experience the brain fog that sets in when I am in the midst of a trying situation. It’s possible to experience energy and stamina of mind! Uhhh, yes please!!
God is saying that as we obey the above commands,
He will clear the fog and provide clarity of thought.
CHECK THIS OUT!!!!! God used the word “surely” twice between the next two “why’s”. Surely <’aph> is a conjunction signifying the addition of something even greater. It was like God saying, “Not only will I strengthen you, but I will help you!…and not only will I help you, I will uphold you!”
SURELY I WILL HELP YOU. <’Azar> is the Hebrew word used for “help” and it means to surround to protect (to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction; guard; defend), to aid (to provide with what is useful or necessary in achieving an end), to succor (something you do or give to help someone who is suffering in a difficult situation; relief). Since I was on a roll looking up words, I also looked up “relief” and it was defined as a pleasant or relaxed feeling that you have when something unpleasant or painful stops or is reduced. Relief is also defined as the removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing; one that takes the place of another on duty.
- “Lightening of something oppressive” made me think of how oppressive the Law had become to the people, having so many man-made regulations added, and how Jesus said “28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
- “One that takes the place of another on duty” reminded me of Moses’ encouragement to the people of Israel. “13 Moses answered the people,’Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” (Exodus 14:13-14)
God is saying, “Reject fear and anxiety, I’ve got you!!”
SURELY I WILL UPHOLD YOU. Uphold <tamak> means to sustain; to obtain and hold fast; to help, follow close; maintain; retain. There are so many nuances to that phrase that I looked into each descriptive word to get the fullness of what God is saying. Check this out!
SUSTAIN
To provide what’s needed to exist and continue
To hold the weight of something
To buoy up
“When I said, ‘my foot is slipping!’,
Your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.”
~~Psalm 94:18~~
OBTAIN
To gain or get by effort
To gain or attain by planned action and effort
“18 For you know that it was not with perishable things
such as silver or gold that you were redeemed
from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
~~1 Peter 1:18-19~~
To be recognized and established
To prevail
MAINTAIN
To cause to exist and continue without changing
To keep something in good condition by making repairs, correcting problems
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work
in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
~~Philippians 1:6~~
To sustain against opposition or danger
“7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show
that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed.”
~~2 Corinthians 4:7-9~~
RETAIN
To continue to have and use
To keep someone in a position
To keep in possession or use
To keep in mind and memory
To hold secure and intact
“27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one
will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father,
who has given them to me, is greater than all;
no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
~~John 10:27-29~~
Now if that doesn’t bring peace to a troubled heart, nothing will!!! God is awesome! His Word brings peace and comfort and confidence! I’m so thankful the Spirit directed my mind to this passage this morning.
“Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
~~ISAIAH 41:10~~