“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

“OH NO!” was my immediate thought when, holding Katie’s hand, I felt a tug toward the ground. Looking down, I saw my wife on the ground, her knee bleeding. IMMEDIATELY I was overcome with love and empathy. AND with a sense of “what can I do to help my love?” What confronted me was an overwhelming sense of helplessness. Seeing my tough wife down was troubling.

We were in Florence, Italy en route to see Michelangelo’s ‘Statue of David.’ It was 1 of only 2 things she REALLY wanted to see on our European trip. In a hurry and running late, she tripped and pain set in. That was 11 days ago. Limping around since, her pain has only slightly diminished. So yesterday she finally conceded to go to the Walk-in clinic. After an X-ray, they confirmed a sprain.

It was an hour later that the phone rang and Katie was told ‘the sprain’ was actually a fracture! Which, to me, was sweet relief! I love her and want her well. But her stubbornness to NOT get a professional diagnosis was NOT in her best interest. A doctor friend of mine encouraged her to get checked out, she finally agreed. Because of pain, she KNOWS what is wrong and is on the mend.

Today’s Bible verse is a promise from God certifying fire and flood are no match for God’s hand. He PROMISES to be with us when we face difficulty. But the end of the verse can easily be misinterpreted as a false promise. God was talking to Israel in regard to their relationship to Him as a Nation. 3200 years later, we see that Israel is STILL in God’s purview. Kinda-sorta!

Not surprisingly, Christ’s relationship to His Church today carries this same promise. Jesus promised, through His Word, that He would never leave or forsake those who choose Him as their Lord. But the promise carries NO spiritual magic! He does NOT promise us healing and miraculous deliverance from every pain, but to walk WITH us THROUGH the pain and suffering we face.

My experience of walking with Christ for 56 years verifies His faithfulness. He has NEVER left me… though I have often moved away from Him, fracturing our relationship. It is humanly natural to move AWAY from pain, deny and seek more comfortable answers than to proceed through fire! But Jesus’ promise is displayed in the storm. Not on the beach! Knowing WHERE I am is critical.

Facing, seeking, and desiring God and His promises starts with ‘Truth.’ It is no accident that Jesus calls Himself “The Way, The Truth and The Life,” and then adds, “there’s NO other Way!” I know, I’ve tried many! Katie is now ‘obeying’ Doctor’s orders and will get better over time. For now, pain reminds her to rest. The SAME thing Jesus says to me when ‘I’ face the fire… Matthew 11:28-29.

Where are YOU? What fires or floods are YOU facing along this road called life. Are you being honest with yourself and seeking ‘The Truth’ and a REAL solution? Have you sought God to find Him? Or are you hobbling around in denial and pain trying to mask or hide from it? He’s waiting to hear from you… and He has answers.