When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you…” (Isaiah 43:2).
Have you ever felt like you were drowning in the circumstances of life? Like wave after wave keeps crashing down, and just when you think you can’t catch your breath, still another one hits? Life can feel like that sometimes — overwhelming, uncertain, and even painful at times. But in the midst of it all, God gives us this precious promise in Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…”
Notice it doesn’t say if you pass through the waters, but when. Trials are not optional in the Christian life. Storms will come, rivers will rise, and fires will burn — but none of these things have the final say. Why? Because God is with us and He is for us.
This verse is not merely poetic language — it’s a powerful reminder of God’s presence in our deepest struggles. He doesn’t promise to remove every difficulty, but He promises His presence in the middle of it. And His presence changes everything.
When Israel stood at the edge of the Red Sea, they saw no way forward — until God made a way. When the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the Jordan, the waters stopped — but only after they stepped in. That’s faith. God doesn’t always remove the challenge before we act. Sometimes He asks us to step forward in trust — and then He moves.
Whatever you’re facing today — whether it’s grief, financial strain, health issues, or family conflict — remember that God is with you in the waters. He is not distant. He is not absent. He is Emmanuel, God with us.
You may feel overwhelmed — but you won’t be overcome.
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are with us and for us. And as long as we abide in You, You will abide in us. You will never leave us to struggle in the water alone. Thank You, in Jesus’ mighty Name, amen.