Read Isaiah 41: 9&10, 13&14

I came back from a conference out west, and I was only home one day before I went camping. Just before my conference, my 12 year old dog Eden had surgery and couldn’t go outside or for a walk for two weeks.  Returning from the conference was the first opportunity I had to take her for a walk.  We set out as usual very early in the morning.  It was late June so the sun rose quite early and allowed us to walk before 7 a.m. on a rail trail near my home.  I was anxious to get back home since we would be leaving in a few hours to go camping for 3 weeks in a place I love because of all the hiking trails that pass right by the campground. 

We took the footpath to the rail trail, and Eden ran like a puppy down the wide gravel path, looped around through the adjacent farmer’s field and back to me again.  She was so excited to be out on that trail! I only went a short distance, barely more than a kilometer, when I turned back around to return home.  Eden stood and watched me, as if she couldn’t believe I was turning around so soon.  She didn’t follow right away, and to my dismay I realized I hadn’t brought her a cookie which I normally would give her when we turned back.  I called her and she trotted to my side, looking expectantly for her cookie (and I felt awful for forgetting).  I patted her head and said, “Sorry girl, I’ve got nothing for you right now.  I know you’re disappointed that we have to turn around, but I’ve got something way better for you.  I have no way to tell you so you’ll just have to trust me.”  Eden ran off towards home, and my own voice rang in my ears as if Jesus were speaking directly to me.

Just as Eden couldn’t possibly know we were going camping and to a place of unlimited walks, I don’t know what’s ahead for me.  Do I trust You as completely as Eden trusts me?  The path of my life is not visible ahead of me.  You ask me to walk “by faith and not sight” (2 Cor 5:7).  If I could see what was coming, then I wouldn’t need faith.  Again, I find you asking me “Do you trust Me?”

In Isaiah 41 God reminds His people (and us) that we are His servants.  Chosen and not rejected.  He tells us not to fear because He is with us and not to be dismayed.  When we have trouble, He will strengthen and help us.  Not only that, He says He will uphold us with His righteous right hand.   If He is our God, we do not need to fear what is ahead- HE ALREADY KNOWS.  Since God is outside of time, He is already there waiting for us.  What precious promises these are!  We never have to fear.

In verse 13, He says He is our God who takes hold of our right hand.  So picture yourself, for a moment, as God describes you here.  In v10 He tells you He holds you up with His right hand.  For Him to be holding you up with His right hand but be holding your right hand at the same time, He has to be completely enfolding you in His arms.  What a beautiful picture of His love and care that is!  As He is surrounding you He is whispering in your ear, “do not fear, I will help you”.

God Himself will help you.  How does that make you feel?  For me, I feel pretty foolish at how fearful I am and how much I worry about the future.  I read once that when we worry about the future, we make it worse because we don’t picture God there.  When troubles of tomorrow pop into your mind, picture Jesus standing beside you and helping you.  Then leave that thought and come back to the present, since Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow (or any other day in the future).  Remember the God who promises to be with us on the path ahead has something glorious for us that we cannot see.