This website is normally directed toward men with prostate and other medical issues. But I found this blog and the succeeding one to be very applicable to many other life’s problems.
Isaiah 41:10 cites one of the clearest and most powerful promises God makes to those who have put their trust in Him as His servants. God says “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
When one of God’s people is seeking an anchor in turbulent times (e.g. medical issues), this is the right passage for the job. Here, Isaiah writes about the source of a Christian’s strength. In verse 10, the Lord promises strength, help and protection. Moreover, He gives two commands; “Do not fear” and “Do not anxiously look about you.” Even as Christians, our enemy Satan as well as our own minds, can induce subtle and successful traps through the art of distraction. The evil one knows that fear can choke faith. In fact, fear and faith cannot occupy the same space simultaneously. He works hard through our mind to make unsettling circumstances a person’s sole focus. Once a believer’s attention is diverted from God, natural human tendencies take over. In the absence of prayer and worship, anxiety and doubt grow unobstructed.
Staying focused on the Lord can be hard. Our flesh prefers to seek security by thinking through all possible angles. Our tendency is to weigh what we think could happen against what “experts” say will happen, and then to evaluate possible ways of preventing our worst fears from coming true. Instead of becoming more confident, we begin to realize how powerless we are. Thankfully, we serve an almighty God who says, “Surely I will help you” (v.10). We can count on Him and agree with the Apostle Paul, “for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10.)
By focusing on our circumstances, we’re actually choosing to feel anxiety and doubt. But these emotions don’t belong in a believer’s daily life. Instead, let’s decide to trust in the promises God has given us. He’s filled His Word with scriptural anchors (see Scriptual Medicines) to keep His children steady in the faith. To be continued in Part Two, “How to Have Two-Fold Peace.”
(A portion of the above was adapted from the “In Touch” Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley, May 29th, 2019.)