God's promise: I will be with you.

I find this verse both scary and encouraging!

Isaiah 43:2 NIV

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

Often as Christians and people we just want things to go well and be easy. We want to see quick results and we want to avoid pain. Sometimes we think God should or promised to give us this. But the reality is Jesus promises us that we would face hard times and suffering and persecution. 

The real promise God gives is that through the hard times: He will be with us. 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you

In this life we will face rough waters and fires. We will be afraid, we will be challenged. But God promises to be with us and protect us. I believe this is a spiritual protection, because physically we do get harmed. But if our hope is in God and our home is eternity with God in heaven then we have nothing to lose. Nothing can harm us from our eternal destiny. Nobody can snatch us out of our place as sons and daughters of the living God. 

So my prayer is: God help me to remember and trust your promise to be with me in the calm and rough waters. Help me to believe you will keep me from getting burned though I walk through the flames. Set my eyes on Jesus and the life you give me in Him!

Amen

Even through the flood waters God has been with me.