The Fading and the Fickle

"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

The economy is crashing, don't be afraid. Your retirement is gone, don't be afraid. The virus only kills sick people don't be afraid. Church is closed, don't be afraid. Keep your distance from every human being, don't be afraid. And somehow, we're all still a little afraid.

"Fear not, for I am with you." This is what God says. "Fear not because I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will bring you through this and I will do it with my righteous right hand."

We became faithless when our object of faith is inferior to anything but the righteous hand of God. Our fear is for good reason. Money, power, and even health cannot be the object of our faith because each of these is fading and fickle. Faith in the fading and the fickle only brings devastating and paralyzing fear.

God does not tell Isaiah to turn to worldly power when his world is falling apart - he just gives him a simple reminder, "Fear not, I am with you."