Begin with 2 minutes of stillness and silence before God.

What are you most afraid of? Spiders? Storms? Sickness? For me, my greatest fears have morphed throughout my life depending on the season and my circumstances, but recently, thinking about the future has been pretty scary – not my future necessarily, but my kids’ futures. Will they make good choices? Will they learn to trust God? Will they thrive wherever they are planted? Will they be scarred by my parenting mistakes? Will they choose the right schools, the right jobs, the right relationships? It’s been a lot of weight to carry, a lot of sleepless nights, and a lot of tearful prayers. I know that God doesn’t want me to worry, fret, or believe I can change anything with my anxious thoughts. But even when I am ensnared in fear of “what if…”, He is right there with me, patiently waiting for me to turn to Him and trust HIM with the future.

Even in our uncertainty, God doesn’t abandon us. That’s the heart of Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” When we are weak, HE makes us strong. This is a verse of comfort to all those who are afraid, uncertain, and hopeless. It reminds us of God’s presence, His promises, His power, and His protection.

God’s Presence: “Do not fear, for I am with you…”

God’s Promise: “…do not be afraid, for I am your God.” 

God’s Power: “…I will strengthen you; I will help you…”

God’s Protection: “…I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” 

The Covenant God, I AM, the God of Promises, is reminding us of who He is, His character. Our Covenant God is with us, and He never leaves us. Through His Holy Spirit, we can cling tight to His presence in moments of uncertainty. And through His Spirit, He gives us His strength and His help. We don’t have to have all the answers or all the strength and fortitude within us to solve the problems and fears that we face – He gives us HIS strength and HIS help.

God doesn’t promise that we’ll never experience anything difficult and scary; He doesn’t promise to remove us from the battle, but God promises He will be with us in the fight. He fights for us. He gives us what we need to make it through to the other side. And even when our worst fears come true, we can take comfort because Jesus has already won victory over life and death!

So, when I feel anxious about my children's futures, I want to remember to bring my heavy heart to God in prayer and thank Him for His presence, His help, and His faithfulness. Regardless of how I feel, I can say a prayer of submission and trust: “God, I trust You. I trust You with my child. I trust You with my child’s heart, and I trust You with my child’s future. Lord, calm my heart and remind me of Your faithfulness in every season.”

When fear creeps in, we can declare Isaiah 41:10 to the Lord in confidence. We may bear scars from these battles, but we can share those scars as a testament to the character and power of God. Look at what the Lord has done! When I was at my lowest, when I was losing hope, when I was unsure of what would come next, the God of Comfort and Strength and Promises never left my side.

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• When fear creeps in and whispers uncertainty, panic, and insecurity, remember Him and be comforted. Let Isaiah 41:10 be your prayer.
• Prayer: God, You are with me, You are my God. I believe You will strengthen me; You will help me. God, You will hold on to me with Your righteous right hand.