Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy,
and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.
But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy.
Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
(Isaiah 8:12–13, ESV)
God’s message to Isaiah is a timely word for us today. We also live in uncertain times, facing political tensions, economic uncertainty, and personal hardships. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, and even easier to place our trust in the wrong things.
Isaiah’s reminder is simple but powerful: focus your heart on the Lord. God does not promise that we will avoid trouble, but He does promise to be with us in it. In verse 14, Isaiah says the Lord “will be a sanctuary” for those who trust Him. This means He will be our shelter, our peace, and our safety, even when storms rage around us.
But Isaiah also adds that for those who reject God, the Lord becomes not a refuge, but “a stone that causes people to stumble.” The same holy presence that brings peace to those who trust Him can become an obstacle for those who reject Him.
The difficult times are real, but so is God’s presence. When fear rises, let’s remember who our God is: holy, sovereign, and near. He is not shaken, and even when we feel unsteady, we can rest in the truth that He holds us steady. Trusting Him does not always take away the hardship, but it does anchor us in hope.
