Pastor Olusola Kolawole
11th October 2026
Bible Text: Isaiah 41:10
Supporting Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:7, Romans 8:15, Numbers 13:26–33, Psalm 27:1, Revelation 21:1–8
Theme: New Dawn
Focus: Overcoming the power of fear through faith in God, remembering His faithfulness and refusing to allow fear to hinder obedience and spiritual progress.
God has not promised that you will never encounter challenges, uncertainties or difficult circumstances. But He has promised that you will not face them alone.
Fear can become one of the greatest obstacles to embracing the new season God has prepared for you. It can magnify problems, weaken confidence, steal peace and discourage you from taking important steps of faith.
Yet God’s assurance in Isaiah 41:10 remains powerful:
“Fear not, for I am with you.”
Whatever situation is confronting you today, God’s presence is greater than the uncertainty surrounding you.
You may not know what tomorrow holds, but you can trust the One who holds your future.
How fear caused Israel to hesitate before the Promised Land — 15:34
A personal testimony of God’s faithfulness amid fear — 18:28
Using God’s Word, the Holy Spirit and Christian fellowship — 25:03
A new dawn represents the transition from darkness into light, from one season into another, and from yesterday’s experiences towards new possibilities.
God may be opening a door, presenting an opportunity or leading you into a season of growth. But fear can make you hesitate even when you recognise that something needs to change.
You may fear failure, rejection, financial uncertainty, unfamiliar responsibilities or the possibility of experiencing another disappointment.
These concerns can become so overwhelming that you remain in a situation you have already outgrown.
That is why God’s instruction is both simple and profound: Fear not.
Isaiah 41:10 contains five assurances that should strengthen your confidence in Him:
God is with you.
He remains your God.
He will strengthen you.
He will help you.
He will uphold you.
Your confidence is therefore not founded on the absence of challenges, but on the presence and faithfulness of God.
A new dawn requires you to believe that God’s promises remain trustworthy even when circumstances appear intimidating.
Fear can enter through many different experiences.
Troubling news, economic uncertainty, concerns about employment, family responsibilities, memories of past difficulties and anxiety about the future may all affect your confidence.
Sometimes, what troubles you most has not even happened. The imagination of what might go wrong begins to rob you of the peace you should be enjoying today.
2 Timothy 1:7 reminds you that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.
“Fear is an unwelcome visitor in the life of a Christian.”
Feeling afraid when facing a genuine difficulty is a human response. But you must be careful not to allow that fear to become the controlling influence over your decisions.
Fear may visit, but it should not become the master of your life.
Romans 8:15 reminds you that you have received the Spirit of adoption, through whom you cry, “Abba, Father.”
You are not abandoned when trouble comes. You have a heavenly Father to whom you can turn.
When fear arises, allow it to remind you of your need for God’s help rather than convincing you that everything is hopeless.
Pray, seek wisdom and take appropriate action without surrendering your life to anxiety.
One of the most damaging effects of fear is that it changes how you interpret your circumstances.
“Fear magnifies problem and makes us to underestimate ourselves.”
In Numbers 13:26–33, Moses sent twelve spies to explore the land God had promised Israel.
The land was fruitful, but ten of the spies focused primarily on its fortified cities and powerful inhabitants.
Instead of remembering God’s deliverance from Egypt, they began comparing their own strength with the giants before them.
They described themselves as grasshoppers in comparison.
Fear caused them to underestimate what was possible with God’s help.
This attitude spread throughout the community and contributed to Israel’s refusal to move forward in obedience.
The same pattern can appear in your life.
You may concentrate so heavily on the difficulty before you that you forget previous answers to prayer. You may become convinced that a challenge is impossible simply because it is beyond your personal ability.
Fear can affect you in three significant ways.
First, it magnifies problems. A difficult situation begins to appear greater than every resource or possibility available to you.
Second, it causes missed opportunities. Instead of moving forward with wisdom and obedience, you hesitate or abandon the opportunity altogether.
Third, it steals peace. Constant worry can affect your rest, concentration, decisions and relationships.
Do not ignore real challenges or refuse sensible precautions. But neither should you allow fear to determine your future before you have considered God’s promises and the steps available to you.
Remember what He has already done. Let those testimonies strengthen your faith for what lies ahead.
Your memory of God’s faithfulness is an important defence against discouragement.
A personal testimony shared during the sermon illustrates how quickly fear can make someone forget previous victories.
Many years ago, the preacher was seeking employment in a federal hospital in Nigeria. Competition was intense, and the available positions appeared almost impossible to secure.
Yet, despite the difficulties, he received the appointment.
As he travelled to begin the new job, he encountered a frightening situation involving armed men and gunfire along the journey.
Although he escaped unharmed, the experience left him deeply unsettled.
He began to struggle with fear and sleeplessness. Eventually, he considered abandoning the new position and returning to his previous employment.
The very opportunity for which he had prayed was now something he wanted to leave behind.
“Fear is a robber.”
During a subsequent Holy Ghost service, he received a message of encouragement that addressed his situation and strengthened his resolve to continue.
Looking back, he recognised how fear had almost caused him to abandon an opportunity he had previously regarded as God’s provision.
The lesson is not that every frightening situation should be endured without seeking safety. It is that fear should not be allowed to erase your memory of God’s faithfulness or force important decisions without careful consideration.
When fear begins to overwhelm you, remember the times God has helped you.
Reflect on the difficulties you have overcome, the prayers that have been answered and the strength you have received through previous seasons.
Psalm 27:1 reminds you that the Lord is your light, salvation and strength.
Do not allow one frightening experience to become the complete definition of your future.
You do not overcome fear merely by pretending that it does not exist.
You overcome its controlling influence by turning towards God, standing on His Word and receiving the strength and support you need.
David encountered frightening situations throughout his life, yet he repeatedly expressed his confidence in the Lord.
Jehoshaphat also faced a powerful enemy coalition. Rather than depending on military strength alone, he sought God and called the people to prayer.
Read 2 Chronicles 20:1–12.
Their experiences remind you that difficult circumstances should draw you closer to God rather than push you away from Him.
“Call upon the name of Jesus. There is power in that name.”
God has given you spiritual resources for your Christian journey.
His Word strengthens your faith and reminds you of His promises. The Holy Spirit helps you in weakness. Prayer allows you to bring your concerns before Him.
Christian fellowship also matters.
When you face a difficult season, do not assume that you must carry every burden alone.
A trusted Christian friend, mature believer, pastor or prayer partner may provide encouragement, wise counsel and support.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 highlights the value of companionship and helping one another when someone falls.
Remain connected to the body of Christ.
Seek God’s help through prayer, listen to His Word and remain willing to receive appropriate assistance.
The presence of fear is an invitation to depend more deeply on God, not a reason to withdraw from Him.
There is a greater purpose to your Christian journey than overcoming earthly challenges.
God is preparing His people for an eternal relationship with Him.
Revelation 21:1–8 speaks of a new heaven and a new earth, while warning against unbelief and unfaithfulness.
The message calls you to recognise that fear can sometimes push a person towards decisions that compromise their convictions.
When trouble becomes intense, you may feel tempted to abandon your principles, pursue harmful shortcuts or seek solutions that contradict your relationship with God.
Do not allow desperation to become the reason you walk away from Christ.
God understands human weakness, and the experience of anxiety should not be confused with a deliberate rejection of faith. What matters is continuing to turn towards Him rather than allowing fear to lead you away from His truth.
Remain committed to Jesus, particularly when the outcome of your circumstances is uncertain.
The greatest new dawn is not merely a better job, improved finances or a difficult problem being resolved.
It is the eternal hope God has prepared for those who belong to Him.
The foundation of a fearless Christian life is a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.
God’s assurance in Isaiah 41:10 is an invitation to trust His presence, strength and faithfulness.
Perhaps you are facing circumstances that have left you uncertain about tomorrow.
Or perhaps you have never surrendered your life to Jesus.
Begin by coming to Him sincerely.
Ask for His forgiveness, surrender your life and place your confidence in His grace.
If you already belong to Christ, bring the particular situation troubling you before Him.
Do not hide your fears. Name them honestly in prayer.
Ask God for the strength to face what lies ahead, wisdom to make the right decisions and peace as you trust Him.
Your circumstances may still require attention and practical action, but you do not need to face them without God.
Fear not. He is with you.
1. Remember God’s promises before responding to fear. Read Isaiah 41:10 and reflect on the assurance of His presence, strength and help.
2. Do not allow negative reports to define your expectations. Acknowledge genuine difficulties, but do not let them completely overshadow the possibilities before you.
3. Recall God’s previous faithfulness. Write down testimonies and answered prayers that can encourage you during uncertain seasons.
4. Avoid making major decisions solely from fear. Pray, seek wise counsel and consider your circumstances carefully before abandoning an opportunity.
5. Remain connected to Christian fellowship. Do not withdraw from people who can encourage you and help you carry difficult burdens.
6. Keep your relationship with Christ above every earthly concern. Let uncertainty strengthen your dependence on Him rather than draw you away.
Father, thank You for Your presence and faithfulness in every season of my life. Help me to remember that You have promised never to leave me.
Isaiah 41:10
Lord, deliver me from every fear that has taken control of my thoughts and decisions. Fill my heart with Your peace, power, love and sound judgment.
2 Timothy 1:7
Father, strengthen my confidence in Your promises. Do not allow fear to magnify my problems beyond the help and possibilities You have provided.
Lord, help me to recognise and embrace the opportunities before me. Give me courage, wisdom and discernment to make the right decisions.
Father, remind me of Your faithfulness whenever I become discouraged. Let previous testimonies strengthen my trust in You.
Lord, restore peace wherever fear and anxiety have troubled my heart. Give me wisdom to seek the help I need and strength to face difficult situations.
Psalm 27:1
Father, help me to turn to You in prayer during every storm. Strengthen my relationship with You through Your Word and the Holy Spirit.
Lord, surround me with godly encouragement and wise counsel. Help me remain connected to believers who strengthen my faith.
Father, keep me from compromising my Christian convictions because of fear or desperation. Help me remain faithful to Jesus in every season.
Lord, let this new dawn bring renewed confidence in You. Guide my steps, uphold my life and help me fulfil Your purpose.
May the Lord strengthen your heart and establish your confidence in Him.
Whatever circumstances have filled your mind with uncertainty, may God’s peace guard your heart and His wisdom direct your decisions.
You will not forget His faithfulness because of present difficulties. You will not abandon worthwhile opportunities simply because the journey has become challenging.
May the Lord give you courage where you are afraid, understanding where you are confused and strength where you are weak.
As you face the uncertainties of life, may you remain rooted in His Word, sustained through prayer and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
May His presence guide you into the new season He has prepared for you.
Above every earthly breakthrough, may your relationship with Jesus remain steadfast, and may you continue walking faithfully with Him.
Fear not, for the Lord your God is with you.
In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
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