As I’ve studied Isaiah 41:10, I’ve found much to apply to my daily living.  It reads, “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (NAS).  

The 2nd part of the verse reads: “…Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God…”. 

Coupled with the first command in this verse to not be afraid is this second command.  The Amplified Bible translation puts it this way: “Do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God.”

God is speaking to Israel through the prophet Isaiah and reassuring them that when other nations are angry at them and contend with them and quarrel with them and war against them (Isa.41:11-13), He is still with them.  The Lord is their God, and He will hold firmly their hand for the sake of righteousness (v 13).

In addition to the literal interpretation of this verse for the nation Israel, the application of it can be made to all of God’s people.

Following Jesus doesn’t mean the absence of conflict and contention, or even anger from other people. On the contrary these things are the norm for the faithful Christ-follower.  Note the following verses:

John15:19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.(NLT)

Eph. 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

And yet God says, “Do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God.” 

God says to not let these things terrorize you to the point of distracting you from the power and presence of God.  We should not let ourselves become deterred from God’s truth or overwhelmed with anxiety to the point of being immobilized and defeated.

How?

The answer is found in the word “look.”  The Hebrew word for “look” in the phrase, “Do not anxiously look about you”, literally means “to gaze.”  What we set our gaze on has a lot to do with whether or not we become anxious.  What you continue to look at and examine has much to do with your emotional health.

To gaze means to “look steadily and intently.”  God is telling us to not “set our gaze” on the people or circumstances around us that would detract from our trust in the presence and power of the Lord.  God says to not “look intently or steadily” at those things or we will lose heart and succumb to fear and inertion.  Instead we must keep our sight set on Who the Lord God is and the fact that He is with us.  We must choose to “gaze” at God and only “glance” at the opposition around us.  This is the way to experience God’s help and to be able to courageously move forward.