September 29

Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.” — Isa 35:4 BSB

"Behold, your God will come." This statement implies that the Lord hasn’t come yet, but the promise of His coming is enough to remove fear. The word "Behold" alone carries significance. The Lord may be in the distance, but His chariot is being prepared, for "He makes the clouds His chariot, and walks upon the wings of the wind." Just as Jesus told His disciples, "Lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near," so does the word "Behold" lift the eyes of His people away from their sorrows, their troubled hearts, and the difficulties of the journey. It calls them to look up, as their God is coming to save them.

Each word in the Scriptures is like a gem, full of meaning. The tiniest detail, like "Behold," can be a treasure trove of truth. God’s word is packed with essence, unlike many sermons that are often filled with much talk but little substance. And in the phrase, "Your God," there is a universe of blessing. "Your God"—what a declaration of everlasting love! It’s a concentrated promise of every blessing in the new covenant. If God is your God, then your doubts and fears cannot break that sacred bond.

Think of a husband whose wife is suffering from a mental illness that causes her not to recognize him or believe in his love. Her condition may be heartbreaking, but it doesn’t dissolve his love or cancel their marriage. Her doubts do not alter their relationship. In the same way, when the Lord’s beloved ones, through Satan’s temptations, doubt their union with Him, their fears do not break the covenant bond. If God’s covenant love joined them in eternity and His grace sealed them in time, they are still His. The Lord will not cast them aside, for "He hates putting away."