“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

There was a time when I faced a situation that made think that I thought I was surely going down, never to recover.

As a part-time counselor, I have also interacted with people who were virtually at their wits end, or as one of my former bosses used to put it – who were ‘at the end of their tether.’

I mean even as children of the Almighty God, we live in a world in which life can be tough – a grisly accident or poor health, a failed exam or interview, a devastating job loss, a serious court case, a relationship on the rocks, a painful bereavement, etc. We have all been there, haven’t we?

Indeed, our meditation verse today was directed to a nation that was in distress; living in heathen captivity in Babylon – hundreds of miles away from their beloved homeland.

But through His prophet, the gracious Lord sent a message of reassurance to His people: “I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Let’s focus on the word ‘uphold,’ which the dictionary defines as; ‘to maintain, affirm, or defend against opposition or challenge; to give moral support or inspiration to.’

The term ‘to uphold’ was pretty common in Old Testament theology, particularly in the Psalms.  

In Psalm 37:24, David sang; “Though [a righteous man] falls, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.”

“The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down,” says Psalm 145:14.  The word ‘all’ implies that God does not have favorite children.

Everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus knows that when they fall, they are never left lying there; when they stumble, they are never completely forsaken!

Isaiah 42:1 says; “Here is My servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom I delight.”  This implies that being upheld by God is one of the characteristics of those in whom God delights.

And when God upholds a person, nothing can bring him/her down, even if he she appears to the world as if ‘she is finished’ or ‘written off.’

“The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.”

Psalm 145:14

Another common phrase in the OT is ‘uphold the cause,’ which essentially means to support, defend, or advocate for; take action to maintain or promote someone; stand up for someone’s rights or reputation.

Also, it is pertinent to note that the act of upholding suggests ‘bearing’ or ‘carrying’ – referring to motion and progress toward a final end – your destiny.

One of the meanings of the Greek word for ‘father’ is ‘an upholder.’ That implies that upholding is part of God’s character as our gracious Father.

Through Christ, the Father is upholding you by the Word of His Power (Hebrews 1:3).

By faith, we can put all our confidence in His unfailing promises to uphold us regardless of whatever situation we might face.

However ‘down’ you are, you’re being upheld by the right hand of the Almighty God until you reach your destiny.  Never forget that. Amen?