The fire and the flood

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Sometimes I think I should just highlight entire chunks of Scripture, and the first seven verses of Isaiah 43 make up one of those. But highlighting a whole chunk misses the point of what highlighters do, right? So, let’s stick with the first 2 verses (and you should definitely read the other five at some point).

But now, this is what the Lord says, He who is your Creator, Jacob, And He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:1-2‬ ‭NASB, emphasis mine)

So many are in the fires and the waters right now. Fires of discontent and offense. Flood waters of overwhelming bitterness and personal disappointment. Our culture is a dumpster fire and the enemy is 100% coming in like a flood!

The easiest thing to do when we’re in the fire and the flood is blame people, and yet God tells us to look up, not around. He speaks to us with the authority of the One who formed us and knit us together in our mother’s womb. He reminds us that if He took that kind of care in creating us, then He’ll take that kind of care in protecting us.

The promise is found in the problem. Share on X

Don’t miss this obvious implication of the word “when” that’s used twice. It’s when we pass through the fire and the flood that we know His protection. He can’t be our Protector if we never need protecting. The promise is found in the problem, which means if you’re in a raging fire or a rising flood today, you’re in the perfect place for God to be the way-maker and the promise-keeper.

He will come through, and so will you.

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Written by Paul Jenkins
Paul Jenkins is lead pastor of The Gathering, a community church located in beautiful downtown Albemarle, North Carolina. He's the author of God is My Air Traffic Controller and My Name's Not Lou. Paul is passionate about his wife, his 3 children, running, reading, coaching, leading people who are following Jesus, Swedish Fish and the Carolina Panthers.