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.”
Isaiah 43:1-2
God does not promise us that we will never go through hard times. What He does tell us, is that we will not have to go through those times alone. God told the prophet Isaiah that as our Creator, the One who formed and designed us, He knows and cares about each one of us, individually and uniquely. And He knows, and cares, that we will go through tough, difficult situations. But He tells us to not be afraid. This may seem like an impossible command, but far from being a directive, God wants these words to be a reassurance. “Do not be afraid, for…,” the scriptures say. For God is with us. Through deep waters of difficulty, God is with us. Through the fires of oppression, God is with us. When we go through those times with God, we will not be overcome or consumed! When we draw close to God, the hard times will not devastate us.
God does not promise us that we will never go through hard times. What He does tell us, is that we will not have to go through those times alone. God told the prophet Isaiah that as our Creator, the One who formed and designed us, He knows and cares about each one of us, individually and uniquely. And He knows, and cares, that we will go through tough, difficult situations. But He tells us to not be afraid. This may seem like an impossible command, but far from being a directive, God wants these words to be a reassurance. “Do not be afraid, for…,” the scriptures say. For God is with us. Through deep waters of difficulty, God is with us. Through the fires of oppression, God is with us. When we go through those times with God, we will not be overcome or consumed! When we draw close to God, the hard times will not devastate us.
Today many people are returning to their homes and facing the devastation that the fires have left behind. Many others are facing other crisis -- other fires -- in their lives. Disease, failed relationships, unemployment, broken hearts, broken dreams… God knows, God cares, and God does provide help in times of trouble. Reach out for Him and then reach out to others.
Is there someone in our life facing difficulty today? WE are part of God's provision for that person. A word, and action, an unexpected smile or touch -- who can we reach out to today?
2 comments:
Good comments Robyn. These are very tough times for many SoCal residents.
Greg
May we all share our faith and resources with our neighbors at this time!
RL
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