“But now, this is what the Lord says — He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.'” — Isaiah 43:1-2
Hard Times
Slumps happen to every athlete. So it’s important to keep a long-term perspective and realize that life won’t always be easy. Roses have thorns, gardens have weeds and roads have potholes. We can’t have honey without bees. Some days are smooth sailing and other days our boat sinks. Nevertheless, God knows how to get us through the hard times.
When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced a fiery furnace, they were not afraid because they knew God could get them through anything. As the king looked down into the blazing fire, he was amazed by what he saw. “Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods'” (Daniel 3:24-25).
If the fire is extremely hot or the water is too deep for us, it’s helpful to remember that God is always ready to help us. “But now, this is what the Lord says — He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze'” (Isaiah 43:1-2).
In plenty or in poverty, the prophet trusted God to get him across the valley to the other side. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga.
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