#TuesdayTruth ... Isaiah 43:1-2
“But now, this is what the Lord says- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
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.’”
Isaiah 43: 1-2 is a scripture that’s hitting home with me right now.
As the new year has begun, I have been praying about what God wants to show me in 2020 and how I am going to see and experience Him in new ways. These verses have appeared, and reappeared, and I have latched on to them. The context is a promise from God to Israel, but I also know the promise is there for me, as an individual.
I am so comforted by the words in these verses and I want to break it down so you can know this promise too.
God knows me so intimately, because He created me. He knew me before anyone else did and literally no one knows me better (and no one ever will).
Then, He reminds me that He “redeemed” me. “Redeem” is a word that Christians use frequently, but how often do we consider the meaning? This means that He bought me back. He won me. He freed me. He recovered me, and with a HIGH price (but that’s a topic for another day). Even still, He purchased, or redeemed, me. ME! The one who knows me most intimately (better than any human)- the one who knows my faults, my downfalls, my secret thoughts and fears, and all of the other shame I once held- found me worthy of redeeming. He saw me as His own and He didn’t focus on all of those faults. Instead He said, “Yes, her. She is worth it. She is worth the high price. She is mine.” (At least, this is how I hear it in my feeble, human mind.)
He calls me by name and calls me His own.
Last, the promise is that when I have hard times, and when I face the difficult situations in life, I will not be overcome, because HE IS WITH ME. What a joy and relief! None of this is dependent on me or my strength (if it were, I would be doomed before I started). I know that there are troubles in this world, but I can rest assured because He is with me.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the promises in your word. Thank you for finding me worthy of your redemption, and thank you that that does not depend on me. This is too wonderful for me to comprehend, but I thank you for it anyways. Thank you for the assurance that you will not let the troubles of life blow me over because you are with me. Thank you that your strength is made perfect in my weakness.
We love you, Father. Amen.