September 11, 2001, brought real horror and fear to America. Trying to deal with this tragedy and work our way through the week, our local high school received permission to go ahead with the scheduled football game on Friday night. As a reserve police officer, together with other regular and reserve officers, we worked security at the game. It was a restless night. One of my colleagues said, “I’m scared to death. Is this the end of the world?” We talked briefly. The game ended and after directing traffic, we met again in our assigned squad car. I shared Isaiah 41:10 with him. I told him that when we belong to Jesus, we have the assurance of His presence no matter what happens. Together we prayed and found strength in God’s promise.
This is powerful truth for us in troubling times. God is intimately related to His people by His personal presence. What God said to Israel He also says to us: “Do not fear.” Hebrews 13:5 literally says, “I will never, by no means leave you, and I will never, by no means utterly forsake you.”