Do not be afraid!

Do not be afraid!

Charles Spurgeon, et al.

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
 
Isaiah 43:1-3
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
 I have called you by name; you are Mine!
 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
 When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
 When you walk through the fire of oppression,
   you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior!”

Fear often grips our hearts when we face uncertainty, suffering, and trials. But God speaks directly to His redeemed people: “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you!” This is not a mere suggestion–it is a divine command grounded in His sovereign grace. He has purchased us at the highest cost–the blood of His darling Son, Jesus Christ! 1 Peter 1:18-19

Because we are ransomed, we are also called by name. This is the personal love of God toward each of His redeemed people–He knows each of us intimately, and claims us as His own. What a comfort to know that our identity is not found in our struggles, failures, or circumstances–but in the unchanging truth that we are God’s redeemed children! Our trials may seem overwhelming, but they can never undo what Christ has secured for us. We belong to Him, and nothing can snatch us from His omnipotent and loving hand! John 10:28-29

The Christian life is not free from suffering, but it is never without God’s presence. The Lord does not say IF you go through deep waters, but WHEN. This world is filled with trials, but the promise is sure: “I will be with you!”
 
Deep waters will not drown you. When trouble comes like a flood, God holds us fast. The waves may crash, but they cannot pull us from His omnipotent grip! Psalm 93:4
 
Rivers of difficulty will not sweep you away. Temptations, sorrows, and hardships may rise–but our foundation in Christ remains forever firm.

Fires of oppression will not consume you. Just as God preserved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, He will sustain us through every trial. Daniel 3:25

We do not walk alone. The sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, is our Savior. He leads us, refines us, and upholds us by His wisdom and power. Every trial, though painful, is used by God to purify our faith and deepen our dependence on Him. 1 Peter 1:6-7

You may measure the heavens with a ruler, you may weigh the  mountains in scales–but the love of Christ, who shall measure that!

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:38-39