Isaiah 12:2 Surely
God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is
my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”
We all go through fearful and
unsettling times. Sometimes, those moments occur when we’re worried about our
families or friends; at other times, we may be concerned about our careers or
work projects; there may also be times when our health declines or something
accidental occurs in our lives. Whatever the circumstances, we feel frail and vulnerable,
unprotected and absolutely human.
When we are fearful, it helps us to
understand that God is always faithful. His words and promises from the past
become relevant and meaningful to us, especially when we read them in times of
trouble or crisis. God’s Spirit reaches to us from the pages of the Holy
Scriptures and across the centuries to let us know that He is with us, standing
beside us, or even carrying us through painful moments and worrying times.
Grace and love are the great gifts He bestows upon us; compassion and comfort
are blessings that will sustain us, enabling us to endure and overcome whatever
assails us.
Today’s verse from Isaiah 12 is a
beautiful promise that can help us get through our present difficulties and personal
problems. As Christians, we receive these words through the blessings of our
Savior Jesus Christ, who forgives our sins, guides us through life, and
restores us to God’s everlasting favor. Our faith is focused on Him, because in
Him we have everything that we will ever need in this life and the next.
Questions for personal reflection
What presently
troubles or worries me? How can God’s promise through Isaiah help me?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of
our souls and the Light of our lives. In You and through You, we experience God’s
grace, love, and compassion. Thank You for allowing us to come to You with our
prayers and problems. Thank You for being with us every day. In Your Holy Name,
we gratefully pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If
you would like to make comments or ask questions about today’s message, please
send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.
Today’s
image is one of John’s 2016 drawings for Holy Week. It’s called ‘The Beginning.’
If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Beginning.
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