“Be not dismayed, for I am thy God” (Isa. xli. 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.”