Daily Devotionals

Monday, January 3

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

On September 14, 2021, Wicked the musical opened on Broadway after 18 months of being closed down due to the Coronavirus. I was not there, but I heard from people who were. There is a line that Glenda, one of the show's main characters, says that made the entire audience erupt in applause. The line was this: “Friends, we have been through a frightening time. And there will be other times and other things that frighten us. But if you let me, I’d like to try to help.” I heard from people in the audience that night that as soon as Glenda said these words, the audience ignored all sense of theater-going etiquette and roared. It’s remarkable how applicable these words were to the audience that day and how comforting they were. The truth is, these words apply to us today, too. For many, the last two years have been difficult and even frightening. We are all looking for comfort like Glenda offered on Broadway that day. Life has thrown us curveball after curveball, and it will continue to do this as long as we live. Infinitely greater than the comfort a musical can bring, Scripture tells us that God offers His presence through every step of life, including the frightening and dark times we face. 

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 trials and suffering that we forget this promise. But, regardless of whether 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. So, my friend, let’s be people who trust God and His promises in every circumstance, especially during our storms.

Moving Toward Action

Memorize Isaiah 43:2. Let this verse bring you peace and comfort when difficult and scary times come. God does not always give us answers, but He promises His presence. He is with us, guiding us and helping us every step of the way.

Going Deeper

Going Deeper – 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 yours

because 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.”