Sing, O Daughter Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:14-17

I Am With You

footprints in the sand “I am with you.” It is amazing how comforting these words can be.

A child is concerned about going to his first day of school. Worry swirls around in his young head. How will he know where to go? How will he know which room is his? But his mom assures him, “Don’t worry. I will be with you. I will take you the first day. Everything will be just fine.”

A young fiancé is looking forward to married life, but isn’t sure what struggles and obstacles she will have to face. Her future husband promises her, “I will be with you. Whatever the future brings, we will face it together.”

“I am with you.” It is amazing how comforting companionship can be.

Zephaniah wrote to share a promise of companionship to hurting and lonely people. Years earlier the people of Israel chose a life without God in it. They stopped listening to him. They stopped living for him. Finally God gave them what they wanted, a life without him in it.

As you can imagine, life without God did not go so well. A foreign army invaded and took the people into captivity. They were left alone dealing with the consequences of a life without God. Guilt, fear, pain, depression, heartache and hopelessness were just a few of the issues the people faced by themselves.

In the middle of their pain Zephaniah offered the people a promise. “The LORD, the King of Israel is with you.” “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.” The people still had many challenges to face, but they now had a champion to fight for them. The LORD was their Mighty Warrior. They were no longer alone.

Nowhere do we see the truth that God is with us more clearly than in the birth and life of Jesus. He is called, “Immanuel” which means, “God with us.” He is the Mighty Warrior Zephaniah said would come to save God’s people. Jesus is God who came into the world as a man to fight our battle with sin. He offers God’s love. He brings God’s forgiveness. He restores the relationship with God that our sin had destroyed.

Notice the change Zephaniah describes when our Savior God is in our lives. Gladness, joy, confidence, singing, and peace are just a few words used to describe a life with God in it. This is the life that Jesus has in mind for you.

Are you worried as you get ready for a new class together? Are you feeling alone? Do you fear what the future holds for you? Take comfort in God’s promise, “I am with you.” You are not alone.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you, for being in my life. Help me to live with confidence knowing that you are greater than any difficulty I will face today. I praise you for being the Mighty Warrior who saves me. Amen.

Daily Devotions courtesy of WELS.