Isaiah 6

There is a short (but sweet) gem about God in this chapter. And even though it might seem like a little thing, to those of us who find ourselves in uncomfortable situations with God, it’s a huge thing: God alleviates anxiety. He is aware of our feelings and emotions. He knows when guilt or fear has overtaken us, and He acts to make us feel as comfortable as possible in His presence:

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.... ‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.' Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’” (vs 1, 5-7)

Even in a dream, God is interested in making sure we feel comfortable in His presence! Of course, this doesn’t surprise me, since throughout the Bible (almost universally), the first four words out of God’s mouth to a human being are almost always Do not be afraid. It seems God is forever trying to get us to stop shaking when He’s near.

But His efforts go well beyond words. In this incident, Isaiah laments that his lips are unclean, so God sends an angel to do something that will help Isaiah understand that he has been made clean. In Genesis, after Adam and Eve first sinned, they realized they were “naked” and were ashamed of it, so when God found them, He made clothes for them to wear (Gen 3:21). In the story Jesus told of the Prodigal Son, when the boy comes home dirty and ashamed, the first thing the Father does is to put the “best robe” in the house on him (Lk 15:22).

Where do your anxieties lie? Are you vulgar, naked, or unclean? Are you ashamed, guilty, or afraid? God knows exactly what your needs are. He is aware of all your feelings and emotions. And whenever He is near you, He will do everything He can to assure you of His love and address the very things that are making you uncomfortable.

You can trust Him with all your fears and insecurities. He will never expose you or mistreat you. On the contrary, He has a track record of alleviating anxiety.