Advent For Those Grieving | No. 09
ADVENT DAY NINE
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,and the flame shall not consume you.Isaiah 43:2
THERE WILL BE TRIALS, BUT HE IS THERE
God tells His people: "you will face trials, you will pass through deep waters, you will walk through fire." But in His kindness He says "I'll be right there with you." And as we have seen throughout this Advent series, when He says "I will be with you" - it isn't an impersonal-overseeing-mere-omniscience type of "with us," instead its this deeply personal and knowing Redeemer who is walking alongside. Remember He came as a baby and lived in this brokenness too, more than omniscience He can identify with our pain.
I know in the midst of our grief it feels like we're alone. That no one could possible understand exactly how broken our hearts feel. And yet He says, "I'm here." And in the midst of our grief it feels like the waters will engulf us and that the flames will burn straight to our core. But He promises otherwise.
THE PROMISE
He promises He will be right beside us as we pass through trials and that the trials will not overcome us because He has overcome the world. He has defeated death and sin. And He can make a way through the waters and through the fire when we can see none.
PRAYER
Father, you are not surprised by our trials, you aren't caught off-guard, you are in control. And You are right here with us. Thank you for being a God who knows us intimately and is working to make a way where there seems to be none. Father when it feels like the water will consume us or the flames burn us whole, remind us You're there. Remind our hearts of this truth.
