Are You Going Through Difficult Waters?

Sometimes when we are going through difficult things we may feel alone. Friends and family may be with us for a time but they have their lives and issues to deal with too. At the time of a death in the family there usually are people around us from our family, from our circle of friends, and from our church family. As time goes by not many, if any, of those people can stay close to us as we deal with the ongoing grief.

Grief can seem to engulf us at times and threaten to destroy us. If one of your children has died you probably know what I am talking about. At times we can't see or feel how we can go on, but we can.

I found a great promise from God found in the book of Isaiah.

“When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty you will not drown.” Isaiah 43:2

Though we may at times seem to 'drown' in our sorrow, grief and pain; notice the word 'through' in this Scripture. First, God does not promise to keep us from deep waters or rivers of difficulty. Second, nor does He tell us we will be destroyed. Third, and most important, He indicates not only will we go 'through', but He will go through with us and promises us that we will not 'drown'. When you go through something it means you come out the other side.

When I was a child they built a highway across part of our small farm, but because there was a small stream that flowed at that point they put in a culvert under the road so the water could flow through. The pipe was big enough for me and my brother to crawl through. The water was usually pretty low so we could crawl through to our field on the other side of the road.  It was great fun.  Recently I looked at that pipe and wondered how I ever was able to crawl through that small pipe. When we look back on our rivers of difficulty we may also wonder how we ever got through.

Amazingly, every time I crawled 'through' the pipe I came out on the other side! Every time you go 'through' those rivers of difficulty, because He goes with you, you will come out on the other side. Does that mean everything will be sunny and wonderful? No, but we can go on living and even be a blessing to others going through their rivers of difficulty.

As long as we live in this life the rivers of difficulty will be there. Sometimes the water is raging, sometimes it is more calm, but nothing can destroy us and nothing can separate us from our relationship with the Lord!

“Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.” Psalm 3:4