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. Isaiah 43:2
Did you know that the personal name for God, "Yahweh," that is found in the Bible literally means "I Am?" This name, Yahweh, is so much more than a name. God purposefully chose this name for Himself. He intended it to remind us that He "is." He exists. He always has. He always will. Not only that, but it is also a reminder that He is with us. Even in our darkest, most difficult days, we are not alone. Because of that, we can face any storm that arises in our lives.
God gives us a reminder in Isaiah 43 that God is with us. "When you go through the 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" (verse 2). Pause for a moment and reread this verse from Isaiah. What a promise to claim! God is with us. He's with us every day, whether the water is calm or the storm is raging. My friend, the Creator of the universe, is with you. Because of this, it stands to reason that He is in control of every aspect of your life, even the storms. You can trust Him even when the ground beneath your feet is shaking. This is the confidence that you have in Him.
Isaiah 43:2 is a promise from God. The question is, will you choose to believe it? It can be easy to become so overcome by our own trials and suffering that we forget this promise. Regardless of if we choose to believe it, the promise is true. The thing that has to change is our attitude. We have to choose to take on an attitude that trusts and believes Isaiah 43:2, or we can worry and let our storms overtake us. My friend, let's be people who trust God and His promises in every circumstance, especially during our storms.
In our storms, sometimes we need the reminder that God is still with us and still working. Take some time to listen to the song "Do It Again" by Elevation Worship. As you listen to this song, cling to the promise from God that He is with you and working in your storm.
Read Isaiah 43:1-13 (NLT)
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 gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yoursbecause you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west.I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth.Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’”
Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world!Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow?Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth?
“But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant.You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God.There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be.I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior.First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world.No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord.“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”
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