Part of learning to live with a chronic illness is accepting that fear of the disease and the unknown is a normal feeling. The illness’s unknown and uncertainty are scary. The very nature of a chronic disease often has death or at least its possibility confronting us. If it is rheumatoid arthritis, you pictured pain and decreased mobility or use of joints. You envision nothing but bleak tomorrows.
Today’s Scripture reminds us that God is with us. We do not face today or tomorrow alone. God is here to strengthen and help us.
Today’s Bible Verse:
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV), “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
What the Verse Means:
The verse’s meaning is best seen when examined in context with two preceding verses. Isaiah 41:8-10 (KJV), “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
The whole passage is one of great tenderness. I am with thee (that is, God is with you). I (God) will strengthen thee (now and in the future). I have strengthened thee (in times past). There is a reminder that God has chosen you. We see a declaration of past favors as well as prophetic words for future favors since God is unchanging.
Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:
- Heavenly Father, I fear not because you are here with me as I fight my affliction.
- I am not heartbroken or dismayed because I know you are my God and are with me.
- I rejoice and claim your promises that you will strengthen me.
- I rejoice and claim your promises that you will help me.
- I rejoice and claim your promises that you will uphold me with the right hand of your righteousness.
- I continue to pray for a hedge of protection for my loved one or even myself, both in the workplace as coworkers don’t always understand and during my treatments.
Photo Source: Pixabay
Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.
If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member, the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post
