Today's Devotional
& Prayer

Hold Steady

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“But you, Israel, are My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
The descendants of Abraham My friend.
You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its farthest regions,
And said to you,
‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and have not cast you away:

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,Ho
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

“Behold, all those who were incensed against you
Shall be ashamed and disgraced;
They shall be as nothing,
And those who strive with you shall perish.

You shall seek them and not find them—
Those who contended with you.
Those who war against you
Shall be as nothing,
As a nonexistent thing.

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’  -  Isaiah 41:8-13

Harriet Tubman was one of the great American heroes of the nineteenth century. Showing remarkable courage, she guided more than three hundred fellow slaves to freedom after she first escaped slavery by crossing into free territory in the United States North. Not content to simply enjoy her own freedom, she ventured back into slave states nineteen times to lead friends, family, and strangers to freedom, sometimes guiding people on foot all the way to Canada.

What drove Tubman to such brave action? A woman of deep faith, she at one time said this: “I always told God, I’m going to hold steady on you, and you’ve got to see me through.” Her dependence on God’s guidance as she led people out of slavery was a hallmark of her success.

What does it mean to “hold steady” to God? A verse in the prophecy of Isaiah might help us see that in reality it’s He who holds us as we grab His hand. Isaiah quotes God, who said, “I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (41:13).

Isaiah 41:10–13 begins with a call to courage: “Do not fear.” But this call isn’t an exhortation to “dig deep” and find the grit and determination to keep going. God doesn’t call anyone to forge ahead on their own. Instead, the summons is followed with these encouraging words: “I am with you” (v. 10). This phrase is repeated throughout Scripture, and is intended to give strength and courage. God said these words to Moses when he was sent back to Egypt to speak to Pharaoh (Exodus 3:12). And Jesus spoke these words to His disciples when He commissioned them to go into the world to spread the knowledge of the kingdom of God and to make disciples (Matthew 28:20). God’s dwelling with humanity came in Jesus (Immanuel). He now indwells believers in Christ through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 2:22; 1 John 4:15–16).

Harriet Tubman held tightly to God, and He saw her through. What challenges are you facing? Hold steady to God as He “takes hold” of your hand and your life. “Do not fear.” He will help you.

The devotional message, “Hold Steady”, was written by Mr. Dave Branon, and appeared in “Our Daily Bread”, www.odb.org, February 5, 2021.  Used here with permission from the website.

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