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 43:2
Through the Waters and Flames
Daily Devotion – March 19, 2024
Devotion based on Isaiah 43:2
See series: Devotions
The headline read, Dozens Burned During Motivational Exercise. They were encouraged to walk barefoot over a bed of hot coals. Their inner strength, their self-reliance, their personal empowerment would keep them safe. Except it didn’t. Their burned feet and ankles were all the proof they needed.
What happened? Maybe the people who ended up burnt did not believe in themselves enough or did not have the right kind of inner strength and self-reliance. Not likely. What happened? The coals were burning hot, and their bare feet lingered long enough to be burnt by the coals.
God promises to be with his people when they go through deep waters and fires of life. He does not tell them to trust in themselves or use their sheer willpower to get through those tough times. He promises to be there with them.
God also says when those troubles come, not if. There are no promises that Christians will be spared pain, sorrow, trouble, and toil in this life. But God does promise to be with them.
God’s promise to be with his people is not a guarantee of a trouble-free life. In fact, he acknowledges the inevitability of troubles. Yet, amidst the flames and deep waters, his promise remains steadfast. He does not promise to spare his children from pain and sorrow but assures them of his abiding presence that sustains and comforts even amid life’s fiercest storms.
The burned feet of those in the headline are a powerful reminder of the limitations of human resilience. God calls us not to lean on our own understanding but to trust in his promises. Trust in the promises of God, who walks with us through every trial and guides us with his unwavering love and grace.
Prayer:
Dear God, help me to put my trust in you when I go through the waters and flames of this life. Remind me of your abiding presence in all circumstances. Amen.
