“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.” Isaiah‬ 41‬:13‬ (NIV)‬‬

She came into the hospital for a major operation that involved multiple surgeons and skill sets. When I entered her room, she was alone, yet she seemed so calm and at ease.

As the operating-room nurse who would care for her during her surgery, I grabbed her hand, and she smiled up at me from the stretcher. Maybe it was a strong desire for relief that made her appear undisturbed about what was to come, or maybe she was this serene every day, but I found myself in awe of her bravery.

This woman was from another country, and we could not speak each other’s languages. What she was facing was very serious, and she was surrounded by people she couldn't even communicate with.

Later, as I watched her complicated operation unfold, I knew that even if we had spoken the same language, there were no words I could have offered her. All I could do was hold her hand and pray.

My friend, you might be struggling right now with what appears to be a monumental obstacle. It might seem like no matter how many people you’ve encountered, no one can even offer up words to guide you through. You may feel like you alone are face to face with your pain.

But I want to remind you of what Isaiah 41:13 says: “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.”

In the midst of your struggle and suffering, remember God is with you. He is holding your hand and reminding you not to fear. He will indeed help you.

You are not alone in this life or your situation. And even when it seems like there’s no one around who you can communicate with, no one who understands what you’re going through, God is with you. He cares, and He understands.

No diagnosis, divorce, disappointment or defeat is too big for Him to handle, so “let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, NIV). We can surrender our burdens, our stress and our worry to God today.

And after we’ve made it through these life-altering situations, looking on with awe at all we’ve survived, we can be sure to give God the glory for all He’s held us through.

Dear God, thank You for keeping me and holding me through the tough times. I trust that no matter what I’m facing today, You are right here with me, helping me every step of the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

The book of Ruth has it all: tragedy, a love story, adversity and a happy ending. It's like your favorite novel or movie. But perhaps the most striking aspect of the book of Ruth is how very human it is. It's the story of ordinary people who faced unavoidable struggles. Just like us, they had to navigate the challenges of everyday life while wondering if the Lord cared about what they were experiencing. In their most trying moments, they couldn’t see God working behind the scenes. But as we read their story, we learn He was there all along. And we can live with that same assurance for our lives as well. Get our new study guide, Ruth: Finding God Faithful When You Feel Insecure and Uncertain, and join our study starting March 6 in the First 5 mobile app!

ENGAGE

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (NIV)

Romans 8:26, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (NIV)

What situation in your life has made you feel helpless, fearful and alone? What do you need God to hold your hand through today? We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2023 by Tracie Braylock. All rights reserved.