January 7th, 2023
by Noah Hefley
by Noah Hefley
“In that day you will say…‘Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid’” (Isaiah 12:1-2). Isaiah is writing: One day this is what you will say…
What is he talking about? Well, Isaiah, the 8th century B.C. prophet in Jerusalem, is speaking to the people of Judah. The nation was facing threatening forces outside its borders. Dangerous and imposing enemies had risen. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had already been conquered and captured by the fierce army of the Assyrians and then scattered across the nations. Now Jerusalem is threatened and frightened over what may happen to them. Isaiah knows the people are afraid, but he knows this is a time to turn to God and trust in Him. So he does something very interesting—Isaiah points them to a time in the future when the Christ sets everything right and establishes His great and lasting kingdom.
He says: “In that day you will say ‘Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.’” Which is to say: In the end, God will win—so learn to trust now in Him. That was the message of Isaiah.
Not a bad message for us, too! Today you may feel that you are facing threatening and imposing dangers to your own health and well-being. Isaiah is teaching us all not to be so caught up in our current dilemma that we fail to take a long view of the situation or fail to trust God for the solution. We need to say one day, maybe soon, it is going to be okay. So one day if it’s going to be okay, I need to trust God and have confidence in Him today.
Hey, it’s easy to be afraid. You will never meet someone who is not afraid of something. It’s true—and that includes you! We all know fear. There is a place for every emotion, including fear, but God never intended for us to live in fear. The Bible says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Some allow fear to get the upper hand, but that is why faith must take a stand! Choose faith over fear. Do as the psalmist said, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” (Psalm 56:3).
So whatever you are facing today—lean into faith. By God’s grace, this is your best choice! Say today what you will say one day: “I will trust and not be afraid.”
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron
What is he talking about? Well, Isaiah, the 8th century B.C. prophet in Jerusalem, is speaking to the people of Judah. The nation was facing threatening forces outside its borders. Dangerous and imposing enemies had risen. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had already been conquered and captured by the fierce army of the Assyrians and then scattered across the nations. Now Jerusalem is threatened and frightened over what may happen to them. Isaiah knows the people are afraid, but he knows this is a time to turn to God and trust in Him. So he does something very interesting—Isaiah points them to a time in the future when the Christ sets everything right and establishes His great and lasting kingdom.
He says: “In that day you will say ‘Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.’” Which is to say: In the end, God will win—so learn to trust now in Him. That was the message of Isaiah.
Not a bad message for us, too! Today you may feel that you are facing threatening and imposing dangers to your own health and well-being. Isaiah is teaching us all not to be so caught up in our current dilemma that we fail to take a long view of the situation or fail to trust God for the solution. We need to say one day, maybe soon, it is going to be okay. So one day if it’s going to be okay, I need to trust God and have confidence in Him today.
Hey, it’s easy to be afraid. You will never meet someone who is not afraid of something. It’s true—and that includes you! We all know fear. There is a place for every emotion, including fear, but God never intended for us to live in fear. The Bible says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Some allow fear to get the upper hand, but that is why faith must take a stand! Choose faith over fear. Do as the psalmist said, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” (Psalm 56:3).
So whatever you are facing today—lean into faith. By God’s grace, this is your best choice! Say today what you will say one day: “I will trust and not be afraid.”
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron
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