Skip to main content
Isaiah 43:1-3 (and 4a) has become 'home' to me recently.  It is easy to become overwhelmed when life is out of our control.   We begin to feel like those waves crashing over us will swallow us up.  We feel frightened at the heat of the fire all around us, licking at our feet.  

'But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Since you were precious in My sight,

As the dear friend who pointed this passage out to me noted, "It does not say 'if', but 'when'"  In other words, why are we surprised when trials come our way?  When the way is not smooth and easy?  God has promised, not to keep the hard times from us, but to see us through them!  Unscathed.  And with personal attention.  I so love reading those words, "I have called you by your name, You are mine!" and, "Since you were precious in My sight. . . "  

We all need to feel loved and cared for.  We need to belong to someone.  It is too easy to give in to the lies that we are uncared for, unloved and unwanted.  He has called me precious!  He keeps His eye on me, because he said so!  According to the Psychology books I read in college, we have basic needs for food and water, but even deeper, we need to feel loved and to belong.  Those needs are stronger than our hunger and thirst even.  They can cause us to do some strange things if not satisfied.  If we surrender to the thought that no one cares for us or that we don't belong anywhere, we may even give up on life.  

But what sweet words to hear that the very Creator of the universe looks down on us with such loving, caring eyes.  He has not forgotten us, nor has He abandoned us.  So when we are crying out to God for relief when the waves or the fire get too near us, remember these words! Hug them close to your heart, whisper them in the dark of the night.  Shout them when you feel like you are  drowning.  Lift your head and repeat them over and over: 

"Fear not. . . "  for

"I will be with you."

"I am the Lord, your God."

"You are mine."

When all comforts of this world flee and you are not sure where to turn, look up, let God comfort and secure your soul.  He cares and wants us.  He made us!  We belong.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Changes

Change is inevitable.  Life is a journey and we cannot see the road ahead.  We plan, we plot, we strategize and organize.  Then some element changes, throwing the entire plan into chaos.   How we respond to that change makes all the difference in the outcome.  What happens when our well-thought out plan is no longer workable?  Do we throw up our hands and give up?  Do we lament and moan and weep over it?  Do we begin working on Plan B?  None of these is a 'wrong' answer as long as we don't get stuck in one too long.  How important is it for us to grieve the loss of our first plan?  It's important and necessary even to mourn for what isn't going to happen, or even the loss of what could be.   Rodger and I planned for me to be a 'stay-at-home mom.'  He never liked coming home to an empty house when he was a kid.  But I think that the stronger motivation was having one of us to be there for our children...
Post a Comment
Read more

Update on the Wallet

Now don't faint.  I know it's just been a few days since my last blog post.  But when God get's moving, things happen fast. Wednesday afternoon I arrived home (thanks for the last minute ride from Enterprise, Debbie!)   and saw a huge pile of mail on the recliner (thank you, Janae, for seeing it safely inside!) I was too tired to look at it much, but saw a letter from the police department and tossed it aside, thinking it was just a copy of the final report on my wallet. Thursday morning, my plans changed, and so I started laundry and sorted through the mail.  I opened the police report, only it wasn't a report, but a notice  to pick up evidence!  I raced up (okay, I might have slightly exceeded the speed limit once or twice) to get my wallet. Enough to say that it was intact (minus the cash) and all my cards were in it.  But no pictures (why?  What reason would they have to leave everything else, but not the pictures of my children and grands?). ...
Post a Comment
Read more

When In Doubt, Breathe

Some years ago, my dr. noticed I was very tense and suggested, "When in doubt, breathe!" I laughed and relaxed. At times of tension and stress in the years following, I have remembered those 4 simple words. Sometimes I have to consciously stop holding my breath and take the next breath. It's a simple act, but it helps to clear my foggy brain. Fresh air and fresh thoughts begin to fill my head and I can clearly see the next step. Once I can think, I am able to hear God as He directs my steps. Proverbs 16:9 "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."
1 comment
Read more