Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. ISAIAH 41:10 (NLT)

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Q: Why does God remind us so often in the pages of the Bible that he is with us?
A: Because we tend to forget as soon as something goes well.

Many people live the lives of practical atheists. As long as things are going well in their lives, they do not think about God that much. When things go wrong, that’s when they start thinking about God. That is when they ask for help. If he chooses not to help in the way they consider helpful, then they wonder if he is really there and if he really does care. 

In Isaiah 40, we see the Omnipotent God in action. Here in this chapter, we see the Omnipresent God in action. Verses 2-4 talk about his mighty deeds. Verses 5-7 contrast him with idols. He is powerful and active and shapes current events. Idols have to be anchored down so they don’t topple over. 

In verses 8-10, God reminds his people how he chose them, they did not create him (vv. 8, 9). Having chosen them, he holds onto them, he never lets them go. 

Do not be afraid, for I am with you.

Psalm 23:4 tells us we do not have to be afraid, “for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” There is no one, there is nothing, bigger and tougher than God. Period. 

Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.

Deuteronomy and Joshua 1 echo with God’s instructions: “I command you—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go,” (Joshua 1:9). Dead ends with Jesus are entries into heretofore unseen pathways. 

I will strengthen you and help you.

Remember how Isaiah’s previous chapter ends:

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

When we live in the grip of God’s grace, we cannot lose. Our Father in heaven never wastes setbacks, failures, sorrows, or defeats. Sometimes we win; sometimes we learn. Our God can take our failure and spin it into purest gold. Recall Romans 8:28

I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Everyone loves a winning team. Winning teams sell more merchandise. Winning teams extend their fan bases beyond their natural geographic territory. There is only One True Champion for All Eternity. His is the team you want to join. 

An old hymn sings what we wish we could say with originality:

Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home

I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me

Written by: C D MARTIN, CHARLES HUTCHISON GABRIEL
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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I will live in the grip of our victorious God.

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Our Father, you cannot and will not lose. You are forever undefeated. I belong to you. Fear and discouragement, my constant companions, shrink back when I remember you have not only the whole world in your hands, you have me. You chose me. You hold on to me. Nothing can force me out of your grip of grace. You provide whatever strength and help I need. Why, indeed, should I fear? Why, indeed, should I be discouraged? I will live in victory. Amen.