“Do not give into fear. For I have redeemed you and called you by name. I see you and know you. You are mine. When you pass through threatening waters, (hard stories, major loses, heart-hurts, and hope-shrinking seasons), I will be with you and for you. I will never leave or forsake you. No matter how the rivers get, they don’t get the last word. I do.” (Paraphrase of Isaiah 43:1-2; Heb.13:5)
Heavenly Father, thank you for parenting, loving, and “showing up” for us through the Scriptures. You don’t give us “verses to claim,” you reveal yourself as a Father to know, love, and trust. Thank you for being “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2Cor.1:3), for we need copious amounts of each.
Today, in particular, thank you for validating our sufferings, heartaches, and hard-to-weather seasons. Abba, there’s no name you call us more precious to us than, “You are Mine.” We are grateful to be yours, Father, and we relish everything that comes with belonging to you. You don’t say to us “if” we pass through deep waters and rushing rivers, but “when” we do, you’ll be with us.
In this fallen world, there’s no such thing as a pain-free life. But because we belong to you through the Gospel, there’s also no such thing as an Abba-absent day or hour. Some of us are beginning this week with fresh, hard news. Others are knee deep in the “rising rivers” of several-week-old disappointments. Before this week is over, all of us will have our ache for heaven and the Day of all-things-new” intensified.
Father, this is why two of our favorite words in Isa.42:1-2 are “pass through.” We’re going somewhere. You’re keeping us and taking us where we really want to be more than anywhere else. Wiped tears, redeemed pain, no more death, and perfect everything define our forever. Thank you, Abba. So Very Amen.