"Through"

What if many people encounter a crisis of faith and some even lose faith simply because of a failure to understand the importance of one word. That word is "THROUGH." For instance, take a look at Isaiah 43 which serves as one among many examples of the place of "THROUGH" in our journey with Christ.

Isaiah 43: ¹ But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

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.

The Bible and, in particular, the above verses are full of God's promise to we his children. He promises us that he will be with us, he will not allow the waters to sweep us over or the flames to set us ablaze. However, he does not promise we will not go THROUGH the waters, rivers and fires. If anything, he is very honest with us. He says here that it is not if, but when we face the waters and the fire that he will sustain us with his presence.

I wonder how many people get mad at God or believe he no longer cares because some where along the way they were not informed of the THROUGH. Our Faith is a THROUGH faith. As Followers of Christ we are not exempt from or somehow protected from going THROUGH the waters and the fire. Jesus put it must straight forward when he said, "In this world you will have trouble." If you live in this world, you will walk through the waters and fires. God promises us that.

Our faith becomes real to life when we come to expect, believe and reply on God's promise to us in whatever we go THROUGH. He promises to be with us. He will go to hell and back with us...he will never leave us...we need never go it alone. He promises not to allow the waters to sweep over us. We may be neck deep in the THROUGH, but he promises to give us what we need, when we need it (not before) as the waters rise. No matter how hot it gets as you walk THROUGH the fire he promises you will not need to stop, drop or roll. Rather He will give strength, resources, hope and more so that you can keep on walking until you come out on the other side.

When we accept the THROUGH of life and what that means for our faith see the water rising and the fire spreading, instead exerting what little energy we have on wondering why God does not care or blaming God for what he has allowed, we can use that same energy to look where God is and what he has promised to do for us in the THROUGH.

What are you going THROUGH right now? Isaiah 43 is God's word of promise to you! Why not pause, meditate on it and give God a chance to make that ancient promise personal.