When You Pass Through the Waters

Isaiah 43:2 “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.”

Have the hard times in your life swept you away or burned and destroyed you? That is not their purpose.
 
I can tell you with certainty that it was the hard times in my life that have sent me to God. I have felt His presence cushioning me from hitting rock bottom. What I learned about Him during those times, I wouldn’t give up for anything.

Life hardships are to force you to rely on God, not to destroy you. The waters are to wash away the dirt we have accumulated, they are not to drown us. “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.” Zechariah 13:1

The fires are to purify us not to consume us. “This third I will put into the fire. I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My Name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My People,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” Zechariah 13:9

By building your life on Jesus, life troubles do not leave you bitter, betrayed, and wounded, but stronger. “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this Foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is… It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.” 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

May you “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4