February 21

Be not dismayed, for I am thy God — Isa 41:10

How tenderly God is always comforting our fears! How sweetly He says in Isaiah xli. 10, Fear not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness. And yet again with still tenderer thoughtfulness, I, the Lord thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee. Not only does He say it once, but He keeps holding our right hand and repeating such promises.

The blessed Lord has condensed it all into one sweet monogram of eternal comfort in His message to the disciples on the sea of Galilee, It is I; be not afraid. He does not say, It is over, or It is morning, or It is fine weather, or It is smooth water, but He says, It is I, be not afraid. He is the antidote to fear; He is the remedy for trouble; He is the substance and the sum of deliverance. Therefore, we should rise above fear. Let us keep our eyes fastened upon Him; let us abide continually in Him; let us be content with Him; let us cling closely to Him and cry, We will not fear though the earth be removed, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.