I Am With Thee
Today’s Verse:
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. ~Isaiah 41:10
Life is filled with many unexpected and unplanned challenges. Things occur in our life that we have no way to plan for. Whatever plans we have laid out can be quickly turned upside down. When exasperating events occur, when our health is being tested, when our relationships are stressing us out, when mountains seem unscalable, or when our faith seems to fail, we feel like our back is against the wall and we are destined to fail. It is during these critical moments that we must turn to the promise found in Isaiah 41:10 and experience the unfailing presence of God in our life. When we are overwhelmed, we need to discover that God is on our side.
There is the everlasting in His presence.
We have the assurance that God is always with us. Sometimes, I hear someone pray that the Lord would be with another person. However, the reality is that God has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. His presence is everlasting. He is with us in good times and in bad times. He is with us when we are standing and when we are on our back. He is with us when we are outnumbered, and He is with us when we are in control. He is with us when the people on our side are many, and He is on our side when we are outnumbered by the foe. God is always there.
There is the encouragement in His presence.
His presence is so encouraging. First, He tells us not to fear. Show me what you fear and I will show you what you worship. Fear is blinding and binding. However, God’s presence is there to keep us from being overwhelmed by our fears. Second, He said, “Be not dismayed.” He is saying to not be easily discouraged. When God says that He is with us, He is with us! Discouragement makes a quitter out of the best of us. God’s presence tackles discouragement and places us in an upright standing against the problem.
There is the enablement in His presence.
God’s presence gives us strength! It enables us to keep going in spite of weakness. It enables us to stand up when we would rather stay down. It enables us to face our enemy head-on and not run as a coward. It enables us to forgive in spite of how badly we have been hurt. It enables us to stay when others quit. His presence is powerfully enabling.
Whatever you are facing, don’t give up. God is on your side! Realize the closeness, the power, and the courage that is found in the presence of God. With God on our side, the waters cannot overflow us. With God on our side, the fire cannot burn us. With God on our side, the giants that we face can be defeated. Get up from the place of discouragement and be renewed that God is on your side!
Have a strengthened God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Isaiah 49-53