Isaiah 43: 5 Luther writes:
“Fear not for I am with you”. Why does He say: Fear not? Because there are fears within and terrors without, the church is a tumult and a frightened people, beset by fear, despair, and sins. For that reason, it has the Word, which is the breath of its life, so that it may be consoled by the Word. “Why are you afraid? Don’t be afraid. I am with you.”
The opposite appears to be the case: “I am very far away from YOU.”
Since the conscience feels that God is very far away from us, it is necessary for
Him to say, “I am with you.” These are hidden words. It seems that God is against us and with our opponents, because everything is going well for them. However, their end will be a most wretched one, even though their beginning was most favorable”
