"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(NLT)
One summer when I was about four years old, my family had taken a day trip. Some of my cousins and I were going swimming. At the time, I did not know how to swim, so my mother told me to stay at the shallow end of the pool. As I watched from the shallow end, my older cousins seemed to be having more fun at the deep end of the pool. So, of course, I had to join them! What they were doing looked easy enough. So, I jumped into the deep end of the pool, but quickly went under the water. I did not know what to do. I began to panic because I could not breathe and I could not get back up to the surface of the water. It was really scary. Suddenly, I felt someone grab me and pull me out of the water. It was my cousin, Eric.
Of course, this is a personal story, but most of us can relate to feeling like we are "going under"--emotionally, as in Isaiah 43:2. It can be extremely overwhelming and scary when we are in throws of great distress and difficulties. In this life we will have troubles, trials, and struggles. Some of which, we bring on ourselves (as I did by jumping into the deep end of a pool without know how to swim). Yet, the Lord promises to be with us when we are going through. Just as my cousin, Eric, reached for me physically when I was under the water--Jesus reaches for us spiritually. What a blessed assurance to know we are never alone! We are also assured that whatever we are experiencing will not overtake us. In fact, as children of God, our victory is guaranteed.
Prayer:
Father, in Jesus' name, thank you for your promise that no matter what I go through, you are with me. I give you praise that you are almighty and all powerful. I thank you that you are greater than any challenge I may be facing. Thank you for the reassurance that You are with me and that at no point am I ever alone. I decree your word over my life and over any difficulty I may be facing now. In Jesus' name, Amen.
One summer when I was about four years old, my family had taken a day trip. Some of my cousins and I were going swimming. At the time, I did not know how to swim, so my mother told me to stay at the shallow end of the pool. As I watched from the shallow end, my older cousins seemed to be having more fun at the deep end of the pool. So, of course, I had to join them! What they were doing looked easy enough. So, I jumped into the deep end of the pool, but quickly went under the water. I did not know what to do. I began to panic because I could not breathe and I could not get back up to the surface of the water. It was really scary. Suddenly, I felt someone grab me and pull me out of the water. It was my cousin, Eric.
Of course, this is a personal story, but most of us can relate to feeling like we are "going under"--emotionally, as in Isaiah 43:2. It can be extremely overwhelming and scary when we are in throws of great distress and difficulties. In this life we will have troubles, trials, and struggles. Some of which, we bring on ourselves (as I did by jumping into the deep end of a pool without know how to swim). Yet, the Lord promises to be with us when we are going through. Just as my cousin, Eric, reached for me physically when I was under the water--Jesus reaches for us spiritually. What a blessed assurance to know we are never alone! We are also assured that whatever we are experiencing will not overtake us. In fact, as children of God, our victory is guaranteed.
Prayer:
Father, in Jesus' name, thank you for your promise that no matter what I go through, you are with me. I give you praise that you are almighty and all powerful. I thank you that you are greater than any challenge I may be facing. Thank you for the reassurance that You are with me and that at no point am I ever alone. I decree your word over my life and over any difficulty I may be facing now. In Jesus' name, Amen.
