"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."
Isaiah 43:2 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: God has been speaking through the prophet Isaiah and is about to remind them (again) that He alone is God and savior of His people. God has brought them through the waters (crossing the Red Sea during the exit from Egypt), and through the fire (just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). What an amazing comfort this verse can be. In our most difficult and trying times, God is right there with us, leading us through whatever we might be facing. I know that I have encountered plenty of times where I felt like I was facing difficulty alone. For example, my wife and I have had three miscarriages. There was a LOT of grief and it was overwhelming. It didn’t feel like God was near during those times, but He was. Did He cause these things to happen? Absolutely NOT! But has He used the pain that He helped me endure to better understand grief in order to help others? Yes, He has. Though I didn’t see it at the time, God was holding me steady and lifting my head. Our heavenly Father was right there with me and I’m sure He was weeping alongside me as He knows what it is like for His child to die (Jesus). He knows what that separation is like. But the great news is that He is also with us when life is going very well and wants to rejoice and celebrate with us.
Prayer for today: Today, I pray that we would open ourselves to the presence of God. That we would invite Him into the good, the bad, and the inbetween. He longs to encourage you, celebrate with you, and teach you more about His peace and joy.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
Prodigal Thinker 