Through, Not Around
“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)
Look at two short words. Not if you pass through, but when. Not around the water, but through it. Isaiah wrote to people facing exile. God does not promise them a way around the river. He promises to be with them in it, and that the water will not sweep them away. Not if you pass through, but when. Not around the water, but through it. Isaiah wrote this to people facing exile, and God does not offer them an exemption from the river. He offers company inside it, and a guarantee about the outcome rather than about the route.
Most people pray to be taken around a hard thing rather than through it, which is a completely reasonable prayer. God promises something else here. He promises to be with you in the water. There is no way around this one, but you do not go into it alone.
Name the Water
- 1Say plainly what you are walking through right now. One sentence, no minimising.
- 2Ask one person to walk part of it with you this week. Be specific about what would help.
Lord, I cannot go around this. Come into it with me.
I am not going through this alone.
Why does the verse say when and not if?
It assumes difficulty rather than treating it as unlikely. The comfort offered is presence inside trouble, not exemption from it.
Who was Isaiah writing to?
People facing exile in Babylon. The imagery of water and fire pointed to real national catastrophe, not general anxiety.
Does this promise nothing bad will happen?
No. It promises the waters will not sweep over you and the fire will not consume you. The route still goes through.