Fear Not, For I Am With You

Isaiah 41:10

‘Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’


What can we do when we're feeling overwhelmed by something; when we’re afraid, fearful, dismayed, anxious, discouraged or frustrated? When we're feeling like a helpless worm? Where can we find security, peace and comfort?


 There are some verses in the Bible that are typically framed and put on the wall of a home. Verses like Joshua 24:15 and John 3:16. The above verse is one of those. It’s a verse that is posted on walls, bibles, plaques, Twitter, etc. But whenever that is done, it is taken out of context. No one pastes a whole chapter of Isaiah on their wall. Twitter doesn’t even allow more than 140 characters! That’s dangerous. When reading a verse, it is easy to lessen your understanding by leaving out the study of its context. What precedes the verse and what follows it is vital to understanding this verse. That’s why I encourage you to go here to read the full chapter.

Verses 2-4 tell us of God’s power and His mighty acts to His people. He chose a nation for Himself – a nation no more than the others (Deut 7:7). He made them conquer kings and nations. His works were seen by the surrounding nations (verse 5), and God announced to them:

“I, the LORD, am the first;
And with the last I am He” (verse 4).

So here God invites the Gentile nations to share in His blessings. Blessings of security, peace and comfort.

Yet instead of responding to this invitation, the nations flee to the apparent security of idolatry. God issues this wonderful invitation, and they run away and construct idols for themselves, and seek their security, peace and comfort from them (verse 7). Idols that need fastening with pegs, otherwise they would totter!

When we see the people around us, we see exactly the same thing as Isaiah describes. God calls out by His Word and His creation and His servants: “Come to me! I can give you security, peace and comfort. I can give you life! I am the LORD!” But, just like the Gentile nations 3000 years ago, they reject His call and turn instead to their own idols of money, possessions, fame, sport, the internet, alcohol and sex. Idols of their own creation. Idols that are flimsy and useless.

Thus says the LORD:
“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

There is nothing but chaos in the pagan world we live in. But God contrasts that sharply with His description of His chosen people. A description of what it is like to live with true comfort, true security and true peace. A description of how children of God live. We live as children of Abraham (verse 8, Gal 3:7)—our heart’s been circumcised and we are inheriting a glorious land!

We live as Israelites—God’s servant, a people chosen and taken from the ends of the earth, chosen and not cast away (verse 9). And it is because He has chosen us that we may now enjoy security, peace and comfort. We truly love, because He first truly loved us.

Therefore, we need not fear! God is with us; He is our God. He strengthens us, He helps us, He upholds us with His righteous right hand! That is truly comforting! Money, fame, the internet, alcohol and all the other things the world wraps around themselves are not comforting.

So if you’re afraid, fearful, dismayed, anxious, discouraged or frustrated, look to Isaiah 41. God says to you:

“But you, Israel, are My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
The descendants of Abraham My friend.
You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its farthest regions,
And said to you,
‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ ”

Yes, we are worms, and sometimes we feel every bit a worm. But God says:

“Fear not, you worm Jacob,
You men of Israel!
I will help you,” (Isaiah 41:14).

We are worms crawling through the grass, with a bird swooping down to snatch us up. We can do nothing to prevent it. We need eyes to see the danger. We need someone to bend down to take notice of us. And we need hands to pick us up out of the danger and place us in safety. My God has those eyes. My God has bent down to me. My God has picked me up and set me in safety!

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Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.