Fire

 Isaiah 43:2 ESV

  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.


There have been instances in history of God's people literally passing through the waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan River. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace but weren't touched by the flames. I think this verse is mostly metaphorical though.

This verse might be comforting, but note that it says 'when' not 'if' you pass through the waters and fire. It's inevitable that we'll pass through the 'waters' of religiosity if I'm not being too fanciful. Religion would bash us about the head with the Law of God.

It's inevitable that we'll pass through the 'fires' of hedonism as it were. The world would tell us to blinker ourselves to spiritual realities and live selfishly. God can deliver us from such temptations.

That God will be with us in the midst of our trials and tribulations is enough. If God is for us, who can be against us? We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

'Almighty Lord, please walk with us through the waters and fires of this life, and get us through safely to the other side. For your glory we pray, amen'.

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