The Christian Girl Chat

Isaiah 41:10

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” — (NLT)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” — (ESV)

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” — (CSB)

Fear in My Everyday Life

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been walking through a season of interviews, praying and hoping to find the right role in ministry. Before each interview, I spend about 20 minutes alone—just praying, grounding myself in truth, and speaking Scripture over my heart and mind.

If I’m honest, I’m naturally more introverted, and so interviews tend to make me nervous. On top of that, I’ve struggled with people-pleasing, like many other people. So, before I speak with anyone, I remind myself of Isaiah 41:10. This verse brings me back to center. It quiets the noise of fear and reminds me: I don’t have to be afraid of people, their opinions, or their judgments—because God is with me.

Not Just With Me — But I Belong to Him

Isaiah 41:10 is a well-known verse, often quoted for comfort and reassurance. But recently, it struck me in a fresh, profound way. The verse tells us not to fear twice, but each time, it gives a different reason why.

The first “do not be afraid” is paired with: “for I am with you.” That’s a powerful truth on its own. The presence of God is a comfort like no other. We’re never alone. The Holy Spirit is active in the world, always drawing people toward Christ.

But it’s the second reason that really stopped me: “Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.” That one hit different… It’s not just that God is near—but that He is my God. This promise isn’t general or distant—it’s personal. The Lord of the universe is my God because I’ve placed my trust in Jesus Christ. That truth is staggering. The One who commands galaxies, the Author of time itself, claims me as His own.

The Power of “For”

Let’s not skip past the small words. In nearly every translation, the word “for” connects each command with a promise. And “for” here means because:

• Don’t be afraid, because I am with you.
• Don’t be discouraged, because I am your God.

That subtle shift deepens the meaning. We’re not simply told to be brave or hopeful—we’re given a reason for to have courage. And that reason is grounded in the unchanging character of God.

So… Who Is This God?

If we don’t know who God is, this verse can start to feel like empty encouragement. But when we begin to grasp the power, the glory, and the love of God—this verse becomes a fortress of peace.

The Creator of the cosmos, the Redeemer of our souls, the Sustainer of all life—that’s the one holding me. That’s the one who promises to strengthen and uphold me.

When I feel fear creeping in, I take a moment to reflect on His names, because each name reflects a different part of His nature. And when I know His nature, I find rest:

1. Jireh – My Provider
2. Elohim – Creator
3. Rapha – Healer
4. Nissi – My Banner of Victory
5. Shalom – Peace
6. Yeshua – God of Salvation
7. El Roi – The God Who Sees Me
8. Abba – My Father
9. Immanuel – God with Us
10. Yahweh – The Great I AM

Confidence Flows from His Character

I want to leave you with a message from Priscilla Shirer’s sermon, Who’s Your Daddy?:

“When you know who your Daddy is, you stop fearing what’s in front of you… He’s the beginning and the end. He’s the keeper of creation and the creator of all. He’s the architect of the universe and the manager of all time. He always was, always is, always will be, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone. He was bruised, but brought healing. He was pierced but eased pain. He was persecuted but brought freedom. He is risen to bring power and He reigns to bring peace. He is light, He is love, He is longevity, and He is the Lord. He is goodness, power, faithfulness, and He is God. He is righteous, powerful, and pure. His ways are right and His will is eternal. His mind is unchanging and His mind is on us. He’s our Savior, our God, our peace, our Lord, our comfort, our joy, and He rules our life. He is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the leader of all leaders, the ancient of days, the ruler of all rulers. His goal was a relationship with me. He’ll never leave you, never mislead you, never forsake you, never forget you, never overlook you, and never cancel your appointment in His appointment book. When you fall, He will lift you up. When you fail, He will forgive you. When you are weak, He is strong. When you are afraid, He is your courage. When you are broken, He will mend you. When you are blind, He will lead you. When you are hungry, He will feed you. When you face trials, He is with you. When I face persecution, He shields me. When I face problems, He will comfort me. When I face loss, He will provide for me. When we face death, He will carry us all home to meet Him. He is everything to everyone every time everywhere and in every way. He is your God and that is who you belong to.”

The reason Isaiah 41:10 can silence fear is because of who God is. If I lose sight of His greatness, the verse loses its power. But when I cling to the truth of who He is—sovereign, holy, faithful, and near—I have nothing to fear. So let this verse not just be one you know by heart, but one that shapes your heart.

This Week’s Challenge:

Pick two or three of God’s names from the list above and spend time learning what they mean. Ask yourself, “How have I seen God fulfill this part of His character in my life?” Journal about it. Pray about it. Talk to someone about it.

Let your confidence grow—not in your own ability, but in the One who says, “Do not be afraid… for I am with you.”