“Now this is what the Lord says—
the one who created you, Jacob,
and the one who formed you, Israel—
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you,
and the rivers will not overwhelm you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be scorched,
and the flame will not burn you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior.
I have given Egypt as a ransom for you,
Cush and Seba in your place.
Because you are precious in my sight
and honored, and I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you
and nations instead of your life.” Isaiah 43:1-4
This has always been one of my favorite passages of scripture, perhaps because of the stark imagery it conveys, or perhaps because it highlights the intensity of God’s love for us individually, multiple times over. It could be the combination of the two. Either way, this was one of the first passages I looked up when I got my new Bible a few weeks ago, because it has been a lifeline in several seasons of my life.
Too often, those of us who run in Christian circles believe that life as a believer should be smooth and without hardship, even coming to the mistaken conclusion that if we do face suffering, it is because we have done something wrong. This is wrong. Dead wrong. We fail to realize that EVERY ONE of us must, in fact, walk through those seasons. Notice the language in the verse above: “WHEN you pass through the waters….WHEN you walk through the fire…”
Even Jesus Himself warned that, “In this world you will have trouble…”
And James entreats us, “Count it all joy WHEN you fall into various trials…”
We often talk about being passed through the fires of purification and the waters of baptism. This is no easy thing to endure. God Himself knows this, and as stated above, Jesus acknowledged it. He was also “a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.”
“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10
“And He will sit as a smelter or a purifier of silver…” Malachai 3:3
He also assures us that:
It is only for a season…
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10
And it produces holiness in us…
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4
And prepares us for eternity…
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:2
But perhaps the best thing about it is in the first verse quoted above from Isaiah 43:
“I have called you by name, you are mine…”
“I will be with you…”
“I am the Lord your God, …your Savior”
“…you are precious in my sight….honored….loved.”
But honing in on the best part, the promise, “when you pass through…I WILL BE WITH YOU.”
And that’s the whole point, isn’t it? All of Scripture tells the story of a God who simply – but desperately, achingly- wants to be near His beloved children. But nearness is costly.
We live in a fallen world—fractured, broken, separated from all that is pure and good and holy. And it would make sense, wouldn’t it, if holiness kept its distance? If God remained untouched by the mess we made.
But He didn’t.
Holiness Himself came down to us.
Emmanuel. God with us.
God is not shouting encouragement from the other side of suffering. He is not waiting at the far end of the fire. But God enters it. He walks with us, speaking to us from within it.
Nothing, not even sin, could restrain Him from making a way to us. So yes, we will have trials. Yes, we will walk through waters and fire. But we do not walk alone.
Why does it matter? What peace should it give us that He will be with us? Well, to finish what Jesus actually said in the verse quoted above, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
There is NOTHING we could possibly face in this world that Jesus has not already overcome.
Is that not a mind-blowing truth?
I was listening to a podcast today that was talking about waiting on God, especially when you’re walking through a season where it seems your dreams are far beyond your reach – if they haven’t already died completely. And it was said, “No matter where you are or what you’re going through or what you’re waiting on God for, He is always asking, ‘Who do YOU say that I am?’” This question comes from Matthew 16, when Jesus asks His twelve disciples in Caesarea Philippi—a region notorious for pagan worship and a particular stone edifice over a dark cave that was considered the very gates of Hades—“Who do you say that I am?” Peter responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
But Peter’s answer isn’t the point here. Here, in this moment, not only was Jesus confirming who He was, but stating, right in front of the very picture of what a broken world can bring us, that He was willing to walk right into that brokenness, darkness, and confusion to be with us, even as He conquers all of hell and the grave on our behalf.
Which brings us back to the wrestle:
In the hard season, is He still your Good Father?
In the season of need, is He still your Provider?
In the season of loss, is He still your Everything?
In the wilderness season, is He still your Wellspring of Life?
In the isolation season, is He still your Friend who sticks closer than a brother?
In the season of waiting, is He still your Sustainer?
In the season of uncertainty, is He still your Rock? Your Prince of Peace?
In the busy season, is He still your Rest?
In the joyful season, is He still your Hope?
In the season of stepping out in faith and not yet seeing the solid ground, is He still Worthy of your Trust?
In the season where He asks you to surrender more and more, is He Worthy of it All?
He promises to be all of those things in every season.
As Isaiah says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior.“
So, I ask you….wherever you are. Whatever your life looks like in this moment…
Who do you say He is?
