by Rev Douglas Brauner

Jesus is our strength.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend, I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Isaiah 41:8-10 New Living Translation

“Don’t be afraid… Don’t be discouraged.” Easier said than done, right?

We’re afraid of and discouraged by the world OUT there, the world that we can’t control. We can’t control our taxes, but we pay them. We can’t control our health, but we try to anyway. We can’t control the weather, but we keep a keen eye on it.

Isaiah says to the Israelites and us, don’t be afraid of or discouraged by the world out there.

Easier said than done.

We’re also afraid of and discouraged by the world IN us. We’re afraid of the world that spins in our heads. Granted, this world inside us is influenced by our dealings with the world, yet even when the world OUT there calms down, the world IN us keeps spinning. We try to shut off the carousel, but it keeps turning.

Isaiah says to the Israelites and us, don’t be afraid of or discouraged by the world spinning in us.

Easier said than done, that is until we read the last words of Isaiah, “I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

These chairs are holding up the fence.

It doesn’t appear that way when you first walk by them. It looks like a place to take a break and rest from a power walk, and yes, they can be used that way. However, the fence will fall if the chairs are removed.

You don’t need to be afraid of or discouraged by the world out there nor the world spinning in your head. Jesus holds you up. He knows your struggles. His cross is the foundation of your life. He will not let you be moved.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado