When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. – Isaiah 43:2

Today's Scripture Reading (July 26, 2020): Isaiah 43

American Novelist Lev Grossman in "The Magicians" commented, "I got my heart's desire, and there my troubles began." Sometimes getting what the heart wants is one of the worst things that can happen to us. Our hearts don't understand the concept of happiness as closely as we think that they should. Therefore, sometimes our hearts chase after things that will ultimately cause us pain. And that is where some of our trouble begins.

But only some of it. The reality of life is that trouble is our constant companion, and it has many causes. Grossman is correct, sometimes getting the desires of our heart is the source of trouble. Sometimes trouble results from the mistakes, choices, and sins of our life. Sometimes trouble is the result of the actions of the people around us and has nothing to do with us. And sometimes we find that trouble doesn't really need a root cause, it finds us, often in some of the most inappropriate points in our lives.

However, the end result is that trouble comes. It is a constant companion in our lives. And it steals our attention from other deserving circumstances. Trouble has the amazing potential to steal away our joy, or even overshadow the happiness present in our lives. It is the reality that some young brides understand. Their wedding day can come off almost perfectly, and yet in the aftermath, tears are shed over the one or two mistakes that might have occurred. One pastor remarked to me that he would prefer to conduct a funeral than a wedding. The reason he gave was that a funeral is held in an atmosphere of pain, and just the presence of clergy and friends is appreciated as they try to comfort the family's grief. But with a wedding, a magnifying glass is used, which makes every mistake appear bigger and enlarges every trouble well beyond the impact of the problem, to the point where sometimes it is the trouble that is all that is noticed.

As God speaks through Isaiah, his message is clear. It is not, "If trouble comes, I will be there." The message is "When trouble comes …," because trouble always comes. It is also important to note that God's message is not "when you walk across the plush carpet, I will be there." It is not that God is not with us when things are going good, because he is. But the times when we need him the most are in the moments of our trouble. Which means, we often need the presence of God.

When trouble comes, when the water gets high or the fire burns, when sickness comes and pandemics entangle, when economies fall, and the money gets tight, God has promised that he will be there to walk through the trouble with us. And sometimes that is all that we need to know to find our way to the other side.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 44