But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:8-10
John Rippon was a Baptist pastor in England for more than sixty years, leading the New Park Street Chapel that would later be pastored by Charles Spurgeon. While he was still in his twenties Rippon published A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to Be an Appendix to Dr. Watts’ Psalms and Hymns. One of the songs introduced in that collection was “How Firm a Foundation” drawn directly from God’s promises to guide and guard His children. Several different people have been suggested as the author, but while the origin may be clouded, the words are wonderfully clear:
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.
As people struggle with the trials and tribulations of life, having God to turn to makes all the difference. According to one report, Isaiah 41:10 was the most searched for verse of Scripture during 2025. There is no shortage of reasons for us to flee to God for help, yet too often we try to make it through the world in our own strength. Instead, we must lay our burdens down at His feet and live in the strength and power of His faithful promises.
