Held by the hand of God
by Jeremy Lie
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I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10b).
Read Isaiah 41:8–13
Isaiah speaks to a people who feel hopeless, forgotten and unsure of the future. I wonder if these are emotions we have felt lately. Surrounded by powerful nations and weighed down by fear, Israel hears God call to them. God does not rally them together and provide a plan of attack. Instead, God reminds them of their identity and their purpose. ‘You, Israel … whom I have chosen.’ Before God addresses their circumstance, God reminds them of their status. Chosen, loved and not abandoned.
In this passage, we hear echoes of Jesus’ baptism, where a voice from heaven speaks over him: ‘This is my child, whom I love. In him, I am well pleased.’ Interestingly, in this part of Jesus’ life, he had not yet started his public ministry. He had not done or achieved anything that would earn him that status. He is simply loved. That is his identity, and so too is it ours. No matter our circumstances, we are loved, chosen and delighted in by God who is love.
God’s reassurance is rooted in remembrance. God’s promises aren’t empty sentiments of redundant hope, but invitations to remember who the promise-maker is and who God has been in the past. He recalls Abraham, his friend, and the faithfulness that carried his people this far. The same God who called, sustained and protected them before is still present now. Fear often tells us we are on our own, but God counters that lie with his presence: ‘Do not fear, for I am with you.’ God steps into the struggle, offering stability when everything else feels unsteady.
One of the most tender images in this passage comes at the end: ‘I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand.’ We are invited to picture a parent guiding a child through danger. God does not shout encouragement from a distance; he draws close. His presence is personal, steady and reassuring.
Dear Lord, help us to release the grip of fear and trust the hand that holds us. Whatever opposition, uncertainty or weakness we face today, we are not alone. You are the God who chooses, strengthens and upholds your people. May we find comfort in your words, ‘Do not fear; I will help you’, and trust that your help is enough. Amen.
In 2023, Jeremy started his own business, Happy Chappy, through which he sells resources for creating connections with educators, friends or anyone who wants to have bigger and better conversations.
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