Return

“Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

So here’s the thing about verses like this. We want this to be true. We want to believe it. But if it’s true, then why am I so fearful and so anxious? What are we supposed to be about the disconnect between the promise and our reality?

These are great questions!

Have you ever tried snuggling with a two or three year old boy? Infants are awesome for snuggling. They aren’t going anywhere and they love being held. Two or three year old boys? Not so much.

The thing is God is always with us. Always. God’s presence, help, strength, and victory is always with us. We just have to stay in his hand. And that’s the thing. We keep wiggling our way out. We want our freedom and independence. We want to play. The last thing we independent selves want is to be held in the loving hands of God.

And then we wonder why when bad things and hard things happen we’re so afraid and anxious.

It’s not that God’s presence and help is not true, it’s that we’ve left God’s presence.

So what can we do? Return.

Return to the loving arms of God and practice being in his presence. That’s where the strength is. That’s where you’ll discover peace.