DAILY DEVOTION, October 16, 2021

I am the Lord Your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear (Isaiah 41:13).

In our Wednesday Bible study, we learned that when John Wesley came to America, the ship encountered a terrible storm. Wesley was terrified, but the Moravians who traveled with him seemed confident and unafraid. When he asked them about it, he learned that their faith in God was so strong that they did not fear death. They must have believed Isaiah 41:13. They believed they were being held by the hand of God, and so they were without fear. Whatever happened, they knew God was with them.

When we are afraid, we need to remember that God is holding our hand. We may not experience His presence, but by faith, we believe it is so. If God is with us, we have nothing to fear. Even death, our last enemy, need not cause us to fear. Death leads us into our eternal home. I remember several years ago listening to a Chinese Christian. When the authorities came to her home and threatened her, she responded, “If you let me live I will continue to preach Jesus. If you kill me, I will be with Jesus forever. I can’t lose!” A similar sentiment was expressed by one of my church members in Decatur who had cancer. Either he would be healed, which would be fantastic, or he would not be cured and go to be with Jesus. He was unafraid.

The point? We have nothing to fear. God is holding our hand.

Dear God, my heavenly Father, forgive me when I doubt Your love and Your presence with me. When I dwell on my problems, fear arises. However, when I focus on Your love and presence with me, fear vanishes. Forgive me when I become too self-absorbed. May I always hear You whispering to me, “Do not fear.” In the blessed name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.