In this passage we have the word of the Lord when we go through trials. We are assured that we will  not be overwhelmed by rivers or burned by fire, as God (the Holy One of Israel and Savior) is with us.

Isaiah 43:^2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Jesus tells us in John16:33: ^“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Are you going through any waters or fires currently?

The Word of the Lord to you today is: Fear not, I am with you. 

Be still, regardless of the circumstances you face. He says, “I am with you. When you go through the fire, the flame will not kindle upon you. You will not burn. “Like Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego, I will be the fourth Man. You will not only be protected from burning, you will not even have a smell of smoke on your clothes. What more? The ropes that were used to bind you will be burn up and loose you to praise Me, and show forth My glory in the midst of the flames. You will be walking unharmed and being a wonder to those who watch you going from glory to glory in spite of the fire you’re in. 

You will so display my glory in the fire that those who orchestrated the fire will be so wowed that they will be converted and begin to glorify Me. 

Your testimony will bring about salvation, rebirth, regeneration and rededication.

It happened to Daniel’s friends. The king was in awe when the three Hebrew children were not only destroyed, but they walked freely in the fires unharmed and there was a fourth Man. The fire brought about a visible manifestation of the power and glory of God.

That is what God wants to do through you in the fire that He allows you to go through-to show forth His glory, praises and give you a testimony. 

David went through many such fires in his walk with God and he came through them victoriously. Many of them were stepping stones to a higher ground. For example, his encounter with Goliath introduced him to the king and gave him a preview of the palace he would occupy eventually. 

And when the king became jealous of him and started pursuing him from place to place, David was being advertised and made popular from place to place. It was through that trial that he met many men who were in depressed, indebted and deserted, discontented (1Sam.22:2), who came to him for mentorship, succor and encouragement after. He recycled these men by training them to become David’s Mighty Men Valor! (2Sam23:8-39) These men enabled him to win many battles of life. 

It is evident from the above how fires that you face In Christ are not meant to burn or harm you but to introduce you to greater glory and triumph and victory, So, you can say to your adversary, and confidently, “Bring it on!”

The story of the Israelites is abundantly clear that because the Lord was with them and leading them forth out of the House of bondage to the Promised Land, their adversaries were no match.

When Pharaoh’s army pursued them to the Red Sea, it was as it was a time of going through the waters as our key scripture tells us.  But as they heeded the word of the Lord, “Go forward!” and Moses stretched out the rod as he was commanded, God made a road in the sea. The word tells you, “You will not drown.” In fact, that scenario was also like going through the fire because the Egyptian army were there to take them back into bondage- fire! But what happened? God fought for them and they walked on dry ground and their adversaries drowned in the sea as their chariots’ wheels came off. They testified themselves, “The Lord is fighting for them.” (And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians Ex14:25  )

That will be your testimony. 

Joseph went through many fires and rivers soon after he saw that vision of greatness and shared it with his brothers. It was one fire to another fire-from being thrown into the pit to being sold into slavery to being accused falsely to being imprisoned in a foreign land. It was as if God lied to him, but each of his troubles was moving him up the ladder of greatness from God’s perspective.

 Joseph maintained his integrity, excellence and purity and empathy, caring for others and promotion came looking for him until he was brought before the King to interpret his dream. We know what happened thereafter, the psalmist put is clearly and beautifully and powerfully, “The word of the Lord tested him until it came true.” ( Ps105:19 )God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent. (Num23:19, Heb6:18   ) If He said it, He has the wherewithal to make His word good. Without a doubt, we have our part to play as we can see in the life of Joseph. But as we look to Him and live the word, walk in the word, our victory is inevitable.

Genesis 50:20 – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.

Besides, remember Joseph and David were operating under the Old Testament but we have the New Testament, the New Covenant, established on better promises (Heb8:6 ). So, thanks be to God who always causes us to triumphs and makes the fragrance of His glory radiate wherever we show up ( 2Cor2:14  ). We are never disappointed because we have the Holy Spirit -our Advantage, Advocate, Helper, Teacher, Standby and Guide. John16:7,23)

Paul went through many fires and rivers in his ministry but they all moved him forward and upward as he kept his eyes on the Lord.  

After obeying the leading of the Holy Ghost to go and preach in Philippi (Act16:6-7 ) , he was arrested with his companion, Silas and beaten mercilessly chained and thrown into a dungeon of a prison. (Acts15:16-34) But rather than complaining and murmuring, they both prayed and sang praises to God at midnight, God so enjoyed the aroma of their praise that He rocked the jail with an earthquake and their chains not only fell off, but the doors and windows were flung open.

The prison warden heard the commotion from his bedroom and ran out, thinking they had escaped and wanted to kill himself, but they stopped him by saying, “Do not harm yourself. We are all here.” Their composure and confidence so overwhelmed the prison warden, that he cried out, asking, “What shall I go to be saved “ ( Acts16:30)

Paul did not waste time. He “struck the iron when it was hot.” He did not want a small win but a big one. He told the man, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you and your household shall be saved. ( Acts16:31) And that was what happened,

Can you see how the “fire” he faced was not to burn him but to make him a bright burning light, an instrument and vessel for a household salvation? And so, there was a great joy, not only in the household of the warden but in the hearts of Paul and Silas and in heaven. 

(Acts16:34 )

Let God use your trial to bring triumph to you and glory to His name. Before any test comes to you, know that God also has a triumph and testimony in store for you. The way you handle that test will determine its outcome. 

This is my testimony. I was out with a bag in which I had my phone. And as I hopped on a bus, I thought I had not seen my Pastor for a while and decided to ring her. She could not take the call but sent a message that she would be in touch later. 

Not long after leaving that bus, I lost my phone. I prayed about it and went searching places I visited thereafter but did not find it. I was disappointed but unruffled. I told the phone to gravitate back to me and left the matter in God’s hands.

Not long after, my Pastor, returning my call had a conversation with a man who told her he had picked my phone which I had lost and wanted to return it to me.  He was a good Samaritan that the Lord stationed where I lost it. He told my Pastor about the phone he had found on the road. The Holy Spirit directed her to call my wife immediately. She called the man who had seen it on the floor at a zebra crossing. We then arranged and met the man to get back the phone.

What a miracle it was! I was thinking of all the information I had on the phone. I give glory to God for saving me from that heartache and disappointment and imminent disaster. I was a fire I went through in those few hours but God was with me and showed Himself strong and gave me the victory and testimony.

¹⁴ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2Cor2:14