For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 41: 13, 14

So that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.  Isaiah 41: 20

“Do not be afraid.”  Easier said than done, we often say.  We are created to fear.  That is not the issue, it is where that fear drives us. Isaiah is so very helpful, or shall we say the Spirit of the Lord in Isaiah.  This is God’s will for us to turn fear from dread to praise and obedience.

To begin, we must agree with God that we are completely helpless and hopeless without Him.  God is not much interested in our attempts at self-improvement.  Sometimes I am tempted to believe that I am a pretty good person by heritage and education so I am basically just fine but do need a little help from God in this minor frailty or that.  I like to think that I am mostly good but I must admit that now and again, ever more rarely, to need God to help me where I do not quite measure up.  That is not what the Word of God tells us.

I must admit that I do not think of myself as a “worm.”  That is pathetic weakness.  It cannot even see.  The Word of God for us as we face fears is to declare bankruptcy.  God addresses us as “O little Israel.”  Those were not welcome words, then and now. My culture adores strength, self-effort, taking charge, commanding life and other people.

It requires the mind of the Holy Spirit to remind us in all seasons of life that we are lost and hopeless without the Lord, our blessed Jesus Christ.  Were I to simply “add” God to my good points and call that salvation, I am singing the wrong song.

The Word also reminds us that if God is indeed our helper, “Then the people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.”  That is God’s way of evangelizing the world!

Let us not deceive ourselves into thinking we do not really need God, but keep us mindful of the fact that out of weakness comes strength as we abandon all thought of self-centeredness and rely completely of the Holy One, God himself.