"Do not fear, for I am with you;"

I was watching the hurricane destruction on last evening news.  I just bowed my head and prayed what I did not know how to pray.

I told God I was unable to pray about such awful destruction, such personal loss.

        Damaged lives,

          damaged homes, 

             damaged electrical systems,   

                agricultural fields once planted with such hope.

And so much more I don’t even know about the hurricane’a violent process.

I just prayed for it all and left it with God.

Then again this morning I felt distressed with the words of the President last night.

And I prayed.

Realizing those two event actually overshadowed the pandemic of Covid-19.

And I prayed.

It has been a heavy morning for my heart.

Then I got up, to pour myself another cup of coffee, and I was reminded again of God’s promise: 

But now thus says the Lord,

   he who created you, O Jacob,

   he who formed you, O Israel:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

   I have called you by name, you are mine. 

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

   and the flame shall not consume you. 

³ For I am the Lord your God,

   the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.

I give Egypt as your ransom,

   Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. 

⁴ Because you are precious in my sight,

   and honored, and I love you,

I give people in return for you,

   nations in exchange for your life. 

⁵ Do not fear, for I am with you;

   I will bring your offspring from the east,

   and from the west I will gather you; 

⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’,

   and to the south, ‘Do not withhold;

bring my sons from far away

   and my daughters from the end of the earth— 

⁷ everyone who is called by my name,

   whom I created for my glory,

   whom I formed and made.’ (Isaiah 43)

All we ever have, after all is said and done, has in the end to be enough.

⁵ Do not fear, for I am with you;