From Fear to Song

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.” — Isaiah 12:2 (NRSVUE)

There are moments in life when we feel unworthy of God’s love, or perhaps unaware that we even need saving. Isaiah’s song reminds us that salvation is not something we earn—it is something God becomes for us. In verse 1, the prophet acknowledges God’s anger, but then marvels at how that anger turns into comfort.

The shift is profound: what once felt like judgment is transformed into mercy. The phrase “he has become my salvation” suggests that the prophet once did not recognize God as Savior, but now sees clearly.

This is the story of grace. Paul echoes it in Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” 

Salvation meets us not at our worthiness, but at our need. Like the psalmist who declares, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1), we might also hear: “what shall I fear?”—for whether it is people or circumstances, Isaiah invites us to trust that God’s saving work is already present, even when we cannot yet perceive it.

For those who feel distant, ashamed, or uncertain today, Isaiah’s words offer encouragement: God’s salvation is not a future possibility but a present reality. The Lord has already become our salvation. The invitation is simply to trust, to let fear give way to courage, and to let despair be replaced by song.

Let this be our proclamation today: “Surely God is my salvation.” Let us say it aloud, even if our hearts feel hesitant. In speaking it, we join Isaiah’s chorus of praise, and we open ourselves to the comfort that God longs to give.

God of mercy and strength, we confess that we often feel unworthy of your salvation, or blind to our need for it. Yet you have already become our Savior, turning anger into comfort, fear into trust, and despair into joy. Help us to proclaim with Isaiah that you are our strength and our song. Teach us to rest in your grace and to live as people who know they are loved. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim