Go! And Fear Not — For I Am With You - Isaiah 41:10 Series

Go! And Fear Not — For I Am With You - Isaiah 41:10

Introduction — Capturing the Moment

Have you ever been in a moment where fear gripped your heart so tightly that it felt like you couldn’t breathe? Maybe it was a doctor’s diagnosis. Maybe it was the sudden loss of a job. Maybe it was standing beside the coffin of someone you loved and thinking, “I can’t do this.”

Fear is one of humanity’s oldest emotions. From the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve hid from God, to this very moment in the 21st century, fear whispers lies: You’re alone. You can’t make it. There’s no hope.

But into the noise of our fear comes the voice of God — clear, steady, and unchanging:

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) — "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."

Today, we are going to see why this verse is not just a sweet sentiment for a greeting card — it is a promise rooted in the unshakable character of God, fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and available to all who will repent and trust in Him.

1. God’s Presence: “I Am With You”

The first reason we are told not to be afraid is because God is with us.

Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah, who were surrounded by threats — Assyria was a looming military power, idolatry was tempting the nation, and exile was on the horizon. Yet, God’s covenant people were reminded that His presence was their ultimate security.

The Hebrew phrase here, ?im-m?-?a ?anî — “I am with you” — is covenant language. It echoes God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 26:24), to Moses (Exodus 3:12), and to Joshua (Joshua 1:9). The Lord’s “withness” is not abstract — it’s an unbreakable commitment of His faithfulness.

Matthew 28:20 (NLT): "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Jesus’ promise to His disciples mirrors Isaiah’s. His presence is not conditional on our performance — it is secured by His own nature and His finished work at the cross.

Max Lucado wrote, “Fear never goes away completely, but it doesn’t get the final word when God’s presence is your reality.”

That’s exactly it — we may still feel fear, but when we remember who walks with us, fear loses its grip.

I once heard of a little boy walking home through a dark alley. He was trembling until his father appeared and took his hand. Nothing in the alley changed — but everything changed because of who was with him.

Christian, the “Father’s hand” is holding yours.

2. God’s Identity: “I Am Your God”

Fear shrinks when we remember whose we are.

In the Hebrew, ?elohe?a — “your God” — is possessive and personal. This is not just any deity — this is Yahweh, the covenant-keeping, promise-fulfilling Creator.

The people of Judah were surrounded by idols, powerless statues of stone and wood. God was reminding them that He alone was the living God who acts on behalf of His people.

Psalm 46:1–2 (NLT): "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea."

The stability of your life depends on the unchangeable nature of your God, not the changeable nature of your circumstances.

Charles Stanley once said, “When you have God, you have everything you need to face anything you fear.”

If He is your God, then the size of your fear is nothing compared to the size of your Saviour.

3. God’s Power: “I Will Strengthen You and Help You”

Our fear often comes from knowing our own weakness — but God does not leave us to our own strength.

The Hebrew for “strengthen” — ?ama? — means to make strong, to fortify, to give courage. “Help” — ?azar — is the same word used in Psalm 121:2: "My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (NLT): "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."

Paul understood that God’s strength is not merely given when we are strong — it is displayed when we are weak.

John Piper said, “God’s purpose for your weakness is to glorify His strength.”

Your fear says, “I can’t.” God’s promise says, “I will.”

Think of David standing before Goliath. By human calculation, David had no chance — but he was not relying on human strength. He was standing in the power of the living God. Fear fell before faith.

4. God’s Victory: “I Will Hold You Up With My Victorious Right Hand”