"Fear Not, For I AM With You!"

Fear not!
(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)

I have many agitations and misgivings. 
But when heart and flesh faint and fail, 
my LORD has three whispers for me 
that banish fear and alarm.

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you!" 
Isaiah 43:1 

My PAST brings me trouble . . . 
  the sins I have committed, 
  the duties I have neglected, 
  the guilt I am chargeable with, 
  the penalty I merit--
these make the retrospect of my 
days and years sad in the extreme. 

I have wrecked my own life. 
I have injured others. 
I have sinned against GOD. 
Sometimes I am overwhelmed 
by self-contempt. 

But there is redemption--
there is forgiveness. GOD concerns 
HIMSELF with the locust-eaten yesterday. 
HE forgives it through the might of CHRIST'S Cross. 
HE may transmute my very sins and errors 
and falls into means of grace--
as nature can convert the battlefield 
that was strewn with the dead, into 
the greenest of pastures. HE redeems 
me from my past!


"Fear not, for I AM with you!" 
Isaiah 41:10 

My PRESENT stirs in me great disquietude. 
Apart from my SAVIOR, I am still . . .
  as weak as water before temptation,
  an easy prey to the enemy,
  the willing servant of sin. 

But then GOD remains with me, 
to preserve . . .
  my soul from death and 
  my feet from falling and 
  my eyes from tears. 
By HIS providence, HIS 
Gospel, HIS Spirit--
HE sanctifies and makes me holy. 

I know not which to marvel at more: 
HIS suffering for me on the cruel Tree--
or HIS long-suffering with me always.


"Fear not, I will help you!"
 Isaiah 41:13 

The FUTURE has its distresses. 
Peering ahead, what do I see? 
Many perplexities, 
many trials and afflictions, 
much weariness and struggle. 
But my LORD will go before me.

As feeble as I am in myself, 
I shall be more than a conqueror 
over all the contingencies of the future, 
when the LORD helps and strengthens me.

To HIS thrice-repeated "Fear not!" 
I reply, "I will not fear, for . . .
  YOU have redeemed me,
  YOU are with me, and
  YOU will help me!"

   ~  ~  ~  ~ 

GraceGems has published William Nicholson's encouraging short article, 
"Christ, the Believer's Life!"