{"id":5761,"date":"2021-10-17T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-17T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=5761"},"modified":"2021-05-21T18:34:25","modified_gmt":"2021-05-21T23:34:25","slug":"passing-through-the-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=5761","title":{"rendered":"Passing Through the Water"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Being a Christian does not exempt us from trials and troubles. We may try to avoid the raging rivers in life, but sooner or later they catch up with us. We don\u2019t all go through the same troubled waters. Some may face poverty, ill health, or discrimination while others deal with abuse, handicaps, or loss. But let\u2019s face it, all God\u2019s children got stuff to deal with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our lives will always be filled with mountains to climb and rivers to cross. At times we may feel like we can\u2019t cross. Our faith is weak. Perhaps sorrow and grief seem greater than we can bear. The challenges we face have depleted our strength. And if we are indeed relying on our own strength, chances are we might not make it. However, God has promised to \u201cpass through the waters\u201d with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the people of Ancient Israel were going through distressing times, God had words of comfort and hope to offer them through the prophet Isaiah. \u201c\u2026Fear 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\u2026\u201d (Isaiah 43:1-2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cpass through\u201d difficult times, God would be with them. This was His promise to them\u2014and to us\u2014and God keeps all His promises (1 Kings 8:56).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we be sure that God will \u201cpass through\u201d with us? Because God says, \u201cFear not! I have redeemed you! I have called you by name and you are mine\u201d (Isaiah 43:1). We are God\u2019s. He has purchased our eternal salvation. We are precious to God. And while it\u2019s true we must \u201cpass through\u201d the water, God is always with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes God parts the water and we go through on dry land like he did for Moses. However, sometimes we have to actually step in the water first. When Joshua was faced with crossing the overflowing Jordan River into Jericho, God told the Israelites to break camp, form a line, and actually step into the river before it would be opened (Joshua 3:7-17). They had to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). They were told to \u201cset foot into the Jordan\u201d\u2014not to wait for it to open (Joshua 3:13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many times we are hesitant to go forward because we want all barriers removed before we proceed. However, God does not usually provide help before help is needed. He doesn\u2019t remove obstacles out of our way before we need them moved. God does everything step by step. That\u2019s why we need to walk with Him. If we are walking with God, we will never have to \u201cpass through the waters\u201d alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*****<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/em>Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.\u201d ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world\u2026 Being a Christian does not exempt us from trials and troubles. We may try to avoid the raging rivers in life, but sooner or later they catch up with us. … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5761"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5761"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5761\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}