“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 43:2).

Great promises in the midst of your severe and heartbreaking trials you can bank on.

I know as I am sharing this message with you today, so many people out there are hurting, discouraged, disappointed, bleeding inside and outside and at the edge of hopelessness and despair. I agree. Life is hard. Especially when bad things and severe trials happen to good people, to those who are believers in Christ, we wonder what in the world is happening and how can we comfort them.
God is the healer inside out. He is not only the healer for extreme body sickness, but He is the healer for inside hurting and hopelessness. Bible says in Psalm 107:20 in their trials and distresses,“ they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” Thank the Lord for His wonder-working eternal and everlasting Words. Bible says they cried out to the Lord and He sent His Word and healed them. The Word of God, the Bible verses, has the power to heal you because the Word of God is sent from heaven by God Himself for our healing, recovery, wellbeing, and salvation.
The passage cited above is talking three type of trials we may face in our earthly journey.

Firstly, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”

The abundance of water like flooding the streets impacts negatively our progress. I was watching an elephant who caught up in a flooded area. The elephant could not make any progress. When it takes one step forward then falls back two levels. All of its efforts to get out from the flood became vain apart from outside help. There is no way you can escape a big surging tide of water. David said in Psalm 69:1-2, “Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life. I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me.” David again said in Psalm 124, “If the LORD had not been on our side, Then the waters would have engulfed us, The stream would have swept over our soul; Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.” You see the flood type of trials has the power to engulf us, swept our soul away. Water and flood can resist our way, slows us down, and it can snap away our strength, energy, and hope. Sometimes water and wind come together and makes it hard to get rescued.

Luke 8:22-25 Bible described an incident when Jesus said to the disciples “let us go over to the other side of the lake.” They all got in, and Jesus fell asleep. Suddenly a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. They came to Jesus and woke Him up and said, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, they all stopped and became calm. They were all afraid and amazed and said to one another, “Who is this man? He commands the winds and the water, and they obey Him.” Jesus Christ in His incarnation was one hundred percent man and one hundred percent, God. This is what the theologian calls the hypostatic union. Jesus was fully human and fully God. Both divine and human natures were in Him. He did not possess two different persons. He was one person with two natures. That is why Jesus slept in the boat and when He woke up rebuked the wind and storm, and it all stopped and became calm. Jesus Christ the God-Man, fully capable of controlling the nature. Only God -man can control the nature, and He did exactly that. Do you think the wind and waves came as a surprise to Him? Do you think Jesus said, I did not know about this wind and storm? No, not at all. He was on a mission to teach the disciples the lessons of patience, perseverance and strong faith when all goes against them and faced with despair. They had a crash course on who they can turn to when all goes against them. How, the Son of God, Jesus Christ can help them in the midst of their trials. He knew exactly what he meant when He said let us go to the other side of the lake, didn’t he?

You see Jesus asked disciples to go to the other side and they were in the perfect plan and will of God. Still gale of winds, waters and waves happened. You may be in the perfect plan and will of God, but even still do you know severe water, and flood type trials can happen to you?
But Bible promises in such colossal water and flood times God’s presence is with His children. It says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” It was God’s presence right in the midst of David’s trails that saved him from all his troubles. My dearly beloved, God loves you, and he will never leave you nor abandon you. He promises His incredible presence with you when you pass through the waters. You see you will pass through water and flood type of trials, but His presence with you will make sure you will reach the place safely. It says ‘you pass through the waters.’ You are not going to stay there permanently. It is just passing through. You will pass through and will reach the other side of the lake safe and secure because Christ is with you in your arduous journey that is hindered by water and flood. ‘Say in loud Jesus is with me.’ Repeat this again and again.

Say and claim God’s promise when you pass through waters, Jesus is with me.

Secondly, “When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”

This signifies more difficult trials because it is not just a flood, but you are in a river surrounded by waters and more serious dangers. But when you are in this type of trial, God promises it will not overflow you. You see, you may have to pass through this type of river trials, but God is in control. He will not allow it to overflow you. In other words, God watches, and He comes to your rescue, and this is guaranteed.

Remember in another occasion in Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus immediately after the multiplication of loaves and fishes to satisfy the hunger of more than five thousand men asked the disciples to go to the other side of the river. Then He went to the mountain to pray, and the disciples were in the river in the midnight, struggling their best effort to drive through the strong winds and waves. The waters were even raging into their boat. They were scared and faced immediate danger. Jesus saw their hardship from the mountain. It was not a surprise to him. He knew what He was up to. After the miraculous loaf incident, He wanted to teach them the depth of the requirement of trust and faith in Him. He did not stay in the distance in the mountain and shouted at the disciples. He came near to them walking on water. God-man walked on water because Jesus was fully God and fully man. He was the perfect savior for all of our sins and problems. He came to this earth as the sacrificial lamb for our sins. When Peter recognized it is Jesus who is walking to them in the night hours when they were scared and struggling hard, said to the Lord to command him to come to Jesus on the water. Jesus said, “come.” Peter got down from the boat and walked toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind coming, he became afraid and began to sink and cried out, “Lord, save me! Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” It said there when they climbed into the boat; the wind died down. Those who were in the boat ‘worshipped him and said truly you are the Son of God.”
Beloved, Jesus did not allow the disciples or Peter to be overflowed by the waters of the river, did He? He reached at the right time for their rescue and helped them miraculously. This is the promise when you face river type of trails. God’s promise to you is “They will not overflow you.” Jesus asked Peter, “Why did you doubt?” Jesus asks the same question to you. Are you in despair and doubt the good Lord? Do not fear or doubt. God promises you it will not overflow you, period! Again the disciples and Peter had a crash course on river type of trials. Who can help them and what is needed in those times. Only Jesus Christ can help and what is needed is faith in Jesus and leaning on Him for help. He will come at the right time and rescue you. Say ‘rivers will not overflow me because Jesus delivers me.’ Repeat this again and again. Say it loud and clear. Expect great things from Lord Jesus Christ.

Say and claim God’s promise when you pass through the rivers, they will not overflow me.

Sometimes we experience severe temptation comes upon us like mighty and flowing rivers. But God guards us safe in the midst of such severe temptations. Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” The temptation is common to all mankind. But God will not let you be tempted beyond the limit -what you can bear. In other words, God set a boundary – this far and no more to tempt or trial us. Bible says God set a boundary for the ocean when waves come. This far and not anymore. This is why the earth is not flooded in water although the area of ocean is more than the dry land. Water to dry land ratio is 71% to 29%. But God already set a boundary so that water won’t engulf the dry land. God did the same thing for your trials and temptations. Is this not comforting to us? He will not let you be tempted beyond the fence he set. He will not let you be tempted before the set boundaries. God knows. He will protect you even if temptations comes like flood and river in your life. Isaiah 59:19 says, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” For sure, God will provide a way out so that you will endure and not be destroyed. Bible says in Romans 8:37-39, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Nothing can separate us from the love and presence of God in our lives. Even the temptations you face will not sweep over you. God will make sure the boundaries He set are safe enough. Seek the Lord in prayer for a way out if you are severely tempted. Seek his face continually. He will help you and you will testify to Him for His glory. The admission and confession of our sins, not trusting in our ability but trusting and leaning on the power of the Holy Spirit is the key to our success. But do not be afraid and keep on trusting the Lord every new day.

Thirdly, “When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.”

This is the most server trials of all. In this type of trail, one goes through the fire. In fact, one walks through the furnace and blazing fire. It is the most severe trial but these fiery trials come with the most rejoicing exultation at the coming of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:13). When we are faced with these fiery trials because of the seriousness of such trials, we may think about why it happened to me? Peter says, “Beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trials, which come upon you as though some strange things were happening to you.” We may think it is unusual, but he says such severe fiery trials are not unusual. He says in 1 Peter 1:7, such fiery trails proof the genuineness of your faith. It is more precious than gold or silver. God and silver are purified and perfected by going through the furnace of fire, through the blazing fire. A silversmith places a bar of silver or gold in the fire and to allow the impurities to pop up. Nobody would know there were impurities in the bar of gold or silver until and unless it goes under the fire. Then the bar melts, and all the impurities come upon the top, and he uses a skimmer to skim off the surfaced impurities. Then it becomes perfect, pure and much more precious and valuable gold or silver. This is the purpose of the fiery trails of our lives. God allows such trials, and these are not unusual although it seems strange to us when happens. But God has a purpose. The purpose is to remove the hidden impurities that nobody knows there in our lives. Once we come out of the fiery trial, we become more precious, valuable and ready to shine for His glory.

Say and claim God’s promise when you walk through the fire– I will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn me.

Remember, Daniel and his three friends went through the blazing fire for their faith and obedience to the one and true LORD who created the heavens and the earth. (Daniel 3:19-30). Bible says King Nebuchadnezzar saw four men walking in the midst of the blazing fire. The fourth man appeared to be like ‘a son of gods’. You see, the eternal Son of God, the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, walked with His dear children in the midst of the fire in their fiery trials. They came out safely. The fire did not affect their bodies. Did not damage their clothes or even their hair. Dearly beloved when you go through the fire, it will not scorch you, nor will the flame burn you. The three Jewish young men who stood firm in their faith in the midst of an ungodly culture came out from the fire with more strength, power, new ministry and new visions. King called them ‘servants of the most high God.” He and many people in his kingdom are influenced by the greatness of the living God in heaven who created the heavens and the earth. You see the phrase says when you ‘walk through the fire’. You are not going to stay there. It is a temporary thing and you are walking through it. The presence of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, protects you from harm and danger even in the midst of your fiery trials. You will also come out with more strength, power and new ministry and visions.

Do you know the LORD who loves you and want to save you from all of your sins and problems? God loves you, and He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save you and grant you eternal life. Jesus Christ came to this earth in fulfillment of hundreds of old testament prophecies, lived on this earth, carried all of the human sins on His shoulders, went to the cross and died there for your sins. He was buried, and God raised Him from the dead on the third day. The grave and tomb of Jesus are still empty. If you visit Jerusalem, Israel, you can see with your own eyes. He is not there, He is risen and went back to heaven according to the description given in Acts 1. Bible says in John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He (God) gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” God the Father gave the right to become children of God to all who would receive Jesus as their savior. As a result, they will be born into God’s family.
Come to the loving God who loves you. He has plans to bless and prosper you. He has a wonderful plan of hope and future for you. His plans are not to harm or hurt you. But he has excellent plan and future in store for you. You should not settle for anything less than that. (Jeremiah 29:11). Accept Jesus Christ as your savior. God has the power to deliver you from all trials and temptations. He will rescue and deliver you. He promises His salvation and eternal life if you would come to Him now. I can help you.

Pray with me dear now. “Father, I believe in Jesus Christ as my savior. I believe he came, died, buried and rose again for my sins and problems. Please save me and grant me eternal life today. Lord, thank you, you sent your Word and saved me today. Deliver me from my trials and temptations. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer or if you need prayer support, please go to www.teachbible.org, and send me a note. Do you know how much I will be thrilled to hear from you? Yes, I will be. May the loving Lord bless and guide you. Please locate a Bible teaching and preaching church in your area and continuously attend there and let me know your progress. Thank you.