When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.  When you go through rivers of difficulty you will not drown.  When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.   For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel. 
[Isaiah 43: 2 & 3]

n my younger years I used to surf from time to time.  I was never really that good, but I still learned and had my own surfboard.  Not bad for a kid who grew up 30 miles from the closest beach.  One early winter day a few years ago, my son convinced me to go surfing with him.  He was accomplished and I hadn’t even carried a board for over 30 years.  We went to Huntington Beach, I rented a wetsuit and a board and we were off into waves that were far too big.  Giving words of encouragement to my son as I positioned myself, the first wave formed and I was off.  Then I realized I had forgotten everything I had learned.  All I remember is falling and ending up deep under water with a bad cut under my eye.  I didn’t know which way was up or down, and I was soon running out of breath.  Only time for a single choice, I swam one direction and my head came out of the water.  Although still in trouble, still literally not out of the water yet, I thought of the words from Isaiah; “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.”  I remember the panic of being hurt and not able to breathe.  Yet I also remember the calming presence of our Lord.  I knew He was with me.  He gave me peace under pressure.

I love the words of Isaiah.  Water will not consume, fire will not burn.  I think of the times the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked and God said “I am with you.”  I think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego thrown into the blazing heated furnace.  Three went in, four came out.  And God says; “When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up and the flames will not consume you.”

Isaiah says “when” and not “if.”  We will face oppression, we will face difficulty and we will find ourselves in deep waters.  But then God says, “I am the Lord your God.”  He is our God, my God and your God.  Not someone impersonal, but someone who created you in His image.  Your God who loves you, cares for you and will be with you during challenging times.  Yes, a river flows in each of us.  It is the river of life which flows from God, through you and on to others.

-c anderson

Click Here for a Printable January Blessing Journal Page