Do Not Fear | Historical Books | Isaiah 41

Welcome to 10 Minute Bible Talks, where we connect the Bible to your life and the time it takes to get to work. I'm Tanya Wilmuth. We can end so many days like a business meeting, can't we? It's like we review our conversations, our performance, our emotions, but God invites us into something entirely different. A relationship built on His "I am" and His "I will." How many of our conversations end like this? Okay, next steps, I'll look into that, I'll get back to you, I'll make those changes, I'll think on that. We like clarity on what's expected of us. We like lists, checkboxes, and tidy outcomes. But our relationship with God is different. God doesn't need a reminder to think about us. God doesn't need to check a box. God doesn't fulfill a commitment and then move on. God is always upholding us. Jesus is always advocating for us. The Holy Spirit is always strengthening us. How do we know? Scripture tells us. In a world that is broken and waiting, God keeps His promise to send us a rescuer and redeemer. Isaiah 41 is one of the places where God uses beautiful, confident language to demonstrate these truths to us. We turn to Isaiah during Advent because it tells us what God will do and what we are still waiting for Him to do. Because He sent Jesus just as He promised, we can trust that He will fulfill every promise still ahead of us. So right now we're in a season of Advent. It is December 2nd and we are celebrating waiting for Christmas, waiting for the birth of Jesus. But in this season of Advent, it's a time marked by anticipation, waiting, and remembering that we are still waiting for Jesus to return and restore all of creation. In this season, I'm just going to share with you that I want to practice flexing a new muscle. So I started this episode telling you about just the self-evaluation and the performance based mindset that can often consume us and really I mean me. But instead of ending my day like a business meeting, instead of rehearsing conversations, emotions, expectations, and performance, through an eviative lens where I'm either over or underperforming, instead of going over the would-of, should-of, and could-ofs of my day, I went to fix my attention on two I am statements and three I will statements in Isaiah 41.10. I am with you. I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. So even if today you are waiting for medical results, trying to repair a relationship, wondering when God will answer a long-standing prayer, receiving unexpected news about a child or grieving the loss of an opportunity you've hoped for, Isaiah 41.10 is completely true. Because in a world that is broken and waiting, God has already entered as our rescuer and he will return as our ultimate Redeemer. So how can you train your mind? How can you flex a different muscle? How can you quiet your swirling thoughts and find comfort in Isaiah 41.10? Isaiah 41 is God's reminder of his assurance, power, presence, and commitment to his people. See, Israel was tired, they were afraid, and they were unsure of what was ahead. And God didn't ask them to be stronger, He reminded them who He is. God told them not to fear because He was with them. He told them not to be dismayed because He is their God. He promises to strengthen, help, and uphold them continually. The chapter also creates a contrast. It shows that idols can't act, idols can't help, and they can't save. They make only empty promises. But God keeps every promise He makes, and Christ is the proof. He is the fulfillment of everything God said He would do. That same God, who upheld Israel, upholds us. It shows you in your weakness, uncertainty, and waiting. If God was with you before, He will not forsake you now. Romans 15-13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." The God of hope specializes in what will be. Not what might be, could be, or should be. What will be true? Prophecies belong to the God of Heaven. Because Jesus defeated death and sits on the throne, we don't live by the power of our own words and promises. We do live by the certainty of His Word, His life, and His resurrection. God promises big things that only He can do. Fear not, I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. When we trust God with our time and plans, we become people who need less control. When we believe what God says is true, we become people who actually want to obey Him. When we fix our attention on His promises, the lesser things that shout for our attention lose their power. We become joyful. We become more peaceful. We become people who are humble, gracious, and content. Heavenly Father, in a broken and challenging world with so many unfinished stories, it gives me incredible peace to know you specialize in I am's and I will's. Outcomes belong to you as surely as I do. Father, I give you my wishes, my worries, and my regrets as of right now. It's actually good to be out of control because it makes the beauty of your promises shine even brighter. Please help me experience your peace and joy as I wait. Amen.