From God comes…
From God comes a way out.
At times, we all feel trapped by our trials. Some circumstances are beyond our control. Life can be overwhelming. We think we have no way out. We pray for God’s deliverance but nothing seems to change. Academically, we know God is our refuge, strength, and ever-present help in times of trouble. (Psalms 46:1) Our all-powerful God can indeed make a way for us where there seems to be no way. (Isaiah 43:16, 19) However, God’s way may not be the way we envision.
The purpose of prayer is not to always get us immediately out of our troubles, but to get us through them. In order to get out, we may have to go through certain challenges. Prayer doesn’t always change our circumstances, but prevailing, persevering, and passionate prayer can change us. It can give us a spiritual perspective so we don’t feel that God is letting us down. It can give us the patience to wait for God’s timing. It can teach us to trust God because He loves us dearly. We learn to praise God in spite of our hardships. We realize God’s solutions will be best for us and His plan for our lives, and will bring glory to Him.
Sometimes the roads we travel are filled with mountains to climb and rivers to cross. We get tired and weary. Our faith grows weak. Perhaps sorrow and grief seem greater than we can bear. Our strength is depleted—and if we are only relying on our own strength, chances are we might not make it. However, God has promised to “pass through the waters” with us.
When Ancient Israel went through distressing times, God had words of comfort and hope to offer them through the prophet Isaiah. “…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you…” (Isaiah 43:1-2).
The Israelites had been dispersed and scattered by the Assyrians. Judah was being taken captive by Babylon. Yet even though these overwhelming events were happening, God told them He would be with them. When they had to “pass through” difficult times, God would be with them. This was His promise to them—and to us—and God keeps all His promises. (1 Kings 8:56)
How can we be sure that God will “pass through” with us? Because God says, “Fear not! I have redeemed you! I have called you by name and you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). We are God’s. He has purchased our eternal salvation. We are precious to God. And while it’s true that we must sometimes “pass through” trials in order to have a way out, God is always with us. Christ is in us.
This quote from missionary Elisabeth Elliot sums it up nicely: “The secret is Christ in me, not me and a different set of circumstances.”
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…” ~James 1:17 (NLT)
