Isaiah 43:1-3 says;
"But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..."
I love this passage because, for me, it illustrates the complete faithfulness of God. First, he has promised that whatever you are going through that there is absolutely no reason to fear, because he is with you and you belong to him. You are precious to him and he will take care of you. Second, I love how it says, that when you "go through" deep waters, that God will be with you. Whenever you "go through" rivers of difficulty you will not drown. Wherever you are at right now, what ever you are facing, God says, that he will "go through" it with you. This means there is a beginning, AND an END. This means, you won't be in those deep waters forever and while you are there, God will carry you through whatever it is you are facing. Third, God is much bigger than anything you are facing. He is more powerful than anything the enemy can throw your way. He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly greater things than we can even ask think or imagine. (See Ephesians 3:20-21) Though the flames surround you, though the heat is being turned up to get those bills paid, or find a job, to get your child the care they need; whatever is turning the heat up on you, the Lord wants you to know that the flames WILL NOT consume you. They cannot touch you because God is on your side and if he is on your side, then who can be against you? I don't know where you are at right now. I don't know what you are facing, but I do know what is true for my own life, and the truth that is found in the Word of God. No matter what you are going through, even if you have turned your back completely on God, he still loves you and still wants the best for you. He desires for you to trust him and seek him with your whole heart, not just when things are going well, but always. He wants your eyes, your focus, your thoughts to be completely and fully on him and his truth. Do you know what else he promises in the midst of difficulty, trials, hardship? PEACE.
Isaiah 26:3 says:
"You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"
So, what are you focusing on? Where are your eyes fixed? What are you thinking of? If none of those answers are God or his truth, it's time to re-focus beloved. He loves you. He wants the best for you. It's time to trust him. Not just with the small stuff, but with everything. What do you fear the most? Have you trusted the Lord to handle it? If not, it's time.
