Through the Waters

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Isaiah 43:1-2 (KJV) But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

What it is speaking to me

When has someone's presence made you feel secure? Do you remember those times growing up when the knowledge that your parent was nearby was enough for you to not lose your nerve? Or if it wasn't your parents, maybe it was a sibling, friend, family dog, or teddy bear.

I remember the first time I rode a roller coaster. If my buddy had not been with me, I doubt I would have gotten on it. I certainly wasn't going to get on it by myself...I was 39.

(Nah just kidding.)

Life is full of scary things. Roller coasters only seem scary and become fun afterwards. Some things in life are scary, and just stay scary. I don't think I need to enumerate examples to you, chances are you have already lived through many of them. It's these types of things that Isaiah is describing as waters, floods, fires and flames. And I wish that he had written a promise that they wouldn't happen, but that is not what he promises. It isn't what God promises. He simply says "when". "When" these things happen. Bummer.

And yet amidst that rather realistic but no less disappointing reality, God gives His people a glorious promise. The same promise Jesus gave His disciples when He ascended: His presence.

And His presence makes all the difference because it means in the end....we win. We are not, and cannot be, overcome. The floods don't drown, the fire doesn't consume. So "Fear not,"

He has formed us.

He has redeemed us.

He has called us by name.

We are his.

What can flood and fire do to that?

It might be a question of when, but it is never a question of who.

What is it saying to you?

What water or fire are you passing through?

What does it mean to you that God calls you by name?

What are we going to do about it?

Write your name and next to it "Thou art mine." Put it where you will see it.