Isaiah 40–43

Think about the five things you fear the most and five things that bring you comfort. Now imagine a scale where fear is on one side and comfort on the other. In general, where on this scale would you place your feelings about your life right now? Where would you place your feelings about the future?

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

Fear is not new. The disciples of Jesus Christ, out on the Sea of Galilee, feared the “wind, and the waves” in the dark of the night (Mark 4:37). As His disciples today, we too have fears. …

Our single adults fear making commitments such as getting married. Young marrieds … can fear bringing children into an increasingly wicked world. Missionaries fear lots of things, especially approaching strangers. Widows fear going forward alone. Teenagers fear not being accepted; grade schoolers fear the first day of school; university students fear getting back a test. We fear failure, rejection, disappointment, and the unknown. We fear hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires that ravage the land and our lives. We fear not being chosen, and on the flip side, we fear being chosen. We fear not being good enough; we fear that the Lord has no blessings for us. We fear change, and our fears can escalate to terror. Have I included just about everyone? (“Be Not Troubled,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 18)

Just as we have our own fears, the Israelites faced circumstances that caused them to fear too. Isaiah prophesied of the destruction and captivity that would come upon Israel and Judah. Beginning in Isaiah 40, God inspired Isaiah to write to the Jews in the distant future who would be dwelling in captivity. What could be some fears or concerns a person in captivity might face?

Read Isaiah 40:1–2. Look for the message God instructed Isaiah to deliver to His covenant people. Then make a note next to these verses of characteristics or attributes of God that you learned about.

As you study, look for what God teaches that can help you experience more of His comfort. If you read or hear something you think might bring comfort, those thoughts could be the Holy Ghost communicating to you. Consider recording these insights in your notebook.

Review the following study options. Complete one or more.

Option A

How does God comfort His people?

To help comfort His covenant people, God inspired Isaiah to teach many things about Him in Isaiah 40–43.

Study two or more of the following sets of verses. Then, using the three steps below, create a short message that could comfort someone who is afraid. Think about sharing your message with someone who may need it.

• Isaiah 40:9–11

• Isaiah 40:28–31

• Isaiah 41:17–20

• Isaiah 42:5–7

• Isaiah 43:1–2

• Isaiah 43:25–26

1. Choose words or phrases from the passage that could help someone feel comforted by God. Summarize these into a simple statement of truth.

2. Find a scripture, hymn, or statement from a Church leader to support the teachings in the passage.

3. Use a personal experience or modern example that illustrates how knowing this truth about God can bring comfort.

Option B

How can God strengthen you?

Read Isaiah 41:10–14, looking for God’s words of comfort to His covenant people. Note that worm in verse 14 can mean meek and humble. What words or phrases do you think could be comforting? Why?

Make a note next to Isaiah 41:10–14 with the following truth: We don’t need to fear, because God will be with and strengthen His covenant people.

To help you understand this truth, read or listen to “How Firm a Foundation” (Hymns, no. 85). Look for words or phrases you find comforting. You could also link Isaiah 41:10 to verse 3 of this hymn. How can knowing God will be with and strengthen us help us not to fear?

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared how our relationship with the Lord can help us to not fear:

Even with the increasing worldly influences around us, we need not fear. The Lord will never desert His covenant people. There is a compensatory power of spiritual gifts and divine direction for the righteous. This added blessing of spiritual power, however, does not settle upon us just because we are part of this generation. It comes as we strengthen our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and keep His commandments, as we come to know Him and love Him. (Neil L. Andersen, “Drawing Closer to the Savior,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 73–74)

Respond to the following question in your notebook:

• When have you felt that God was with you or had strengthened you?

Lesson Purpose: To help you feel God’s comfort.

Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:

• The scripture passage you studied and your short message.

• Your response to when you have felt God with you or strengthening you.

• Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.

• Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?