From Anxiousness to Assurance!

“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you’.” – Isaiah 35:1 (ESV)

Have you noticed? Assurance appears to be decreasing while anxiousness increases. 

Name the issue, and you will discover we have more questions than answers. The challenges we face are readily identifiable. However, proposed solutions are frequently debatable and elusive.

Those of us who live in America are a few days away from our Presidential elections. Candidates actively communicate their views on what must happen to address the challenges before us. Regardless of your candidate of choice, it’s probable that you are noticing feelings of fear, dread, or uneasiness. 

Isaiah’s words to his fellow Israelites intend to encourage and redirect their focus to the “One True Source” of their salvation. These timely words come on the heels of God’s declaration that the fruitful land of Edom (the long-time oppressors of God’s people), will become a wasteland (Isaiah 34:11-17). The hope for Israel is that their source of deliverance, who will turn a fruitful land to desolation, will also cause another desert to blossom (Isaiah 35:1-2). 

When Israel’s anxiousness increases, Isaiah’s words encourage the weak and faint-hearted. God is preparing what Israel sees as a desert before them as their exit route (Isaiah 35:10).

“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees…” This imagery refers to weakness caused by fear (see Ezekiel 7:17, 21:7; Nahum 2:10). Despite our upcoming election, we can be courageous because God is in control. 

“Say to those who have an anxious heart,” is a transliteration of “those whose heart is quick.” In Hebrew culture, a fast-beating heart is a sign of panic. Recent conversations with friends on opposite sides of our political parties have revealed a sense of panic. “What if he’s elected?” “I don’t know what we will do if she becomes President.” 

Is your heart racing? If so, Isaiah’s following words can calm your troubled heart. 

“Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” 

Take strength and be courageous. Do not allow fear to distract you from seeing that God will come and His purpose will be accomplished! God comes in “vengeance”—decisive action to set things right. Justice will prevail In God’s time, not ours.  

“Recompense” implies compensating people for wrongs done against them. God makes amends for the wrongs suffered, and He will do so in His time, not my desired schedule. 

Isaiah reminds us that it is God who saves us! As much as we desire a candidate to rescue us, even the best candidate cannot provide the salvation we need.

I will cast my vote in this upcoming election. I pray you will, too. It’s the right thing to do. Whether our candidate is elected or not, Isaiah’s words offer consolation to racing hearts, remind us of our rightful SOURCE of salvation, and turn anxiousness to assurance.