Facing Your Fear

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed,

for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

 

Last week I went to spend some time with my oldest daughter who lives on the East Coast.  She had taken Monday and Tuesday off work (an unbelievable event!), so I took the train up on Sunday so that we would have full use of both days.

Monday morning did not quite go as planned, however.  She received a text from a friend, early in the morning, asking if she had seen the email sent out from her firm.  She had not, but quickly logged on to read it.  It was, to say the least, a shock.  Her firm was in the midst, that very day, of a huge layoff - of major players as well as minor ones.  The email was cordial but concrete - everyone would find out later that day whether they were in or out.

My daughter was on vacation (a blessing, perhaps?), so she was not right there in the midst of the storm.  It would be early afternoon before she was given word "for sure" that her job was safe.  During the intervening hours of the morning, I watched her juggle her Blackberry, her phone, and her email as she tried to keep up with the revelations of who was in and who was out.  It was a morning of great drama, but it was also a morning laced with a dose of fear.  Although she was pretty sure that she would have a job the next day, there certainly was a chance that she would not.

I thought about this text from Isaiah quite a bit during those anxious hours.  I contemplated first of all what this text does not say:  

• I, God, will make this go away
• I, God, will protect you from any bad things happening to you.
• I, God, will make sure you keep your job (your house, your spouse, your health...)  

It would be wonderful, I suppose, if God did promise that, but He does not. So what exactly is God promising here?

• You do not need to be afraid or dismayed - for any reason.  There is no provision for extra-special circumstances when you need to fear. This is a command:  (YOU) fear not. 
• I, God, am not only God, I am YOUR God.
• I, God, will strengthen you - whatever the circumstances.     
• I, God, will help you - whatever the problems.
• I, God, will hold you in My hand - I will be there.

For a person like me who has been fearful practically from birth, the idea - the command - that I do not need to fear at any time is a pretty tall order.  When fear strikes, however, I try to remember what God said to Joshua at the very beginning of his leadership of the nation of Israel:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, 

for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9