Isaiah 41:10-13

"So don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my..."

"You will search for your enemies, but you will not find them. Those who are at war with you will be reduced to nothing and no longer exist. I, the..."

"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...."

Inspirational illustration of Isaiah 41:10-11 -- 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.

""For I hold you by your right hand — I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, 'Don't be afraid. I am here to help you.'""

"[The Lord says] "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...."

"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."

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

"God has a strong reserve with which to discharge this engagement; for he is able to do all things. Believer, till thou canst drain dry the ocean of..."

Inspirational illustration of Isaiah 41:13 -- For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

""I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, 'You are my servant.' For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don't be afraid,..."

While we cannot accurately predict the future, for most of us, there will be potholes in our path! Rubel Shelly reminds us to not get knocked off our path when we encounter potholes, even big bad ones that do damage, but to keep pressing on and persevering toward the call of God.

Why would we ever want potholes in the road? Rubel Shelly writes about potholes, discouragement, disappointments, pain, grief, wounds that occur in our lives and how they are part of the fabric of life and necessary to develop our character.