Through the Waters and the Fire

11/21/2025

“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 43:2 (NIV)

There are moments in life when it feels like everything comes crashing in at once, waves so high you can hardly catch your breath, flames so close you can feel the heat rising off your fears. Today’s verse isn’t a promise that we won’t face those moments. It’s a promise that when we do, we will never face them alone.

It’s like the day God called me to launch a church. That wasn’t in my plans. It wasn’t on my radar. I felt like I was stepping off the edge of a cliff with no parachute. I’d been asking God for direction, but I wasn’t expecting Him to hand me a calling that looked like deep water.

I wrestled with the same questions many people do:
“What if I sink?”
“What if I’m not enough?”
“What if I fail?”

But woven into this verse is God’s gentle reminder:
“I will be with you. You’re not stepping into the unknown alone.”

Don’t get me wrong, there were days in that early season when the waters felt overwhelming, uncertainties, fears, insecurities. The enemy whispered the same lies he always whispers: You’re in over your head. This will burn you up. You’re not called. You’re not equipped. But every time those lies came, God sent reminders that His presence was greater than my fear. He placed people around me that spoke life. He opened doors I couldn’t open, especially the place we meet. And He steadied my steps every moment I went forward.

Maybe your waters look different. Maybe it’s a diagnosis, a relationship strain, financial pressure, or loneliness. Maybe you’re walking through a fire that feels like it’s been burning for years. Hear this:
God doesn’t stand on the shore yelling instructions.
He steps into the water with you.
He walks inside the fire beside you.
And He will bring you out on the other side, strengthened, refined, and unshaken.

Quick Action Steps:
• Identify one “water” in your life right now that feels overwhelming. Name it before God.
• Speak this truth aloud: “God is with me in this.”
• Spend five minutes thanking God not for removing the circumstances, but for His presence in them.
• Send a message to someone who is in a tough season and remind them that they’re not alone.

Today’s Challenge:
Do one thing today that fear has been telling you not to do. Take the step, however small, knowing God is walking with you.

Prayer:
Father, thank You for being my constant presence in the waters and my protection in the fire. When life overwhelms me, remind me that You are near, steadying my steps and strengthening my spirit. Give me courage to trust You, even when the current is strong. Lead me, guide me, and walk with me today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Jeff

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