When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

ISAIAH 43:2

he is with you

Trials. It’s never a matter of if we will face them, but when.

Isaiah 43:2 has always been a source of hope to me. It’s our reminder that trials are inevitable. They will happen, but we have something that cannot be taken from us: God himself is with us. He will not let the waters drown you, and He will not let the fire consume you. You are His.

I have a friend that I love very deeply. She was once my “one more.” Josh and I prayed for many years for her to come to know Jesus. She had walked through many difficult trials and endured so much pain in her life, and I remember how the Holy Spirit moved powerfully the day she surrendered her life to Christ.

After many tears of joy, I could hear peace in her voice for the first time. She told me she was hopeful her newfound relationship with Jesus would be the end of her pain. I lovingly had to tell her that following Jesus doesn’t mean the end of our suffering.

We live in a fallen world, and even Jesus reminded His disciples that in the world they would have trouble, but they could take heart because He had overcome the world.

I encouraged her with the fact that what she could count on is that she would never face her suffering alone, because He would be with her.

I’ve walked through many trials with others. I’ve experienced plenty of my own. I know the heartache, the confusion and the tendency of the human heart to question: Where is God in this? Why is this happening?

If you find yourself in this place, I want to encourage you that God never promised us that our lives in Him would be without pain, sadness, hardship, or trouble. But He does say He is in it with us. He will be with you. He does not change. He is good, and you can trust Him. The waters and fires of life are both places where we can encounter our loving Father.

PRAY

Father, you are good, and you are kind in all your works.

Help me to cling to the fact that you are with me and present in my life, no matter what I am facing. There is nothing that escapes your eye, and you know how each detail fits perfectly together.

Please use this circumstance in my life as an opportunity for me to grow in my relationship and depth of intimacy with you. Help me to experience more of you and praise you for who you are.

In Jesus’ name, amen.