When You Pass Through

By: Jenifer Metzger

We've all faced trials in life. We've lost loved ones, lost dreams, lost relationships, struggled financially, faced health crisis, feared for a prodigal, been hurt by those we trusted most, lost jobs, and a long list of other trials we could have faced. No one in this world is exempt from trials. In fact, when we are living for God, it feels like those trials come more frequently as the enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you,

and the rivers will not overwhelm you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be scorched,

and the flame will not burn you.

Isaiah 43:2 CSB

Look at the first word in the verse above: when. God doesn't say if you pass through waters. He says when. He says when, not if, because we are sure to face those trials. He knows this world is broken and He knows we will face hard times. No one lives a smooth sailing life from cradle to grave.

My daughter has a bone condition where she has over one hundred tumors on her body and is in constant pain. We found the condition when she was four years old and we were told she would be monitored closely by a sarcoma doctor for the rest of her life. She is only twenty-three but has already had seven different surgeries to remove twelve of the tumors. We've been told from the beginning that these type of tumors are benign. That there is only 1% chance of one of these tumors actually being cancer. Pathology from her last surgery showed she is part of the 1%.

When she was a child, our church gathered around her and prayed over her before one of her check ups. As a man was praying he had a vision of her tumors falling off her body. We've stood by that promise of God for years. Yet, here we are. She still has the tumors and faces pain every single day. We don't know why she has to go through this. But we know as she does, God is with her.

My extended family has always been super close. We went to church together, vacationed together, had meals together, we were always together. It was normal to talk with my mom and even my sisters several times a day. Then, something happened that tore myself, my husband, and our kids away from the rest of the family. No matter the amount of trying, forgiving others, apologizing, and praying, nothing seems to get better.

I know how important family is to God and I don't know why I have to go through this, why I've lost the people that meant so much to me. But I do know that as I go through it, God is there every step of the way.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you,

and the rivers will not overwhelm you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be scorched,

and the flame will not burn you.

Isaiah 43:2 CSB

God tells us in Isaiah that when we pass through the waters, He is there. When we walk through the fire, He is there. Sometimes we have to pass through the trials. Could God help us avoid them? Yes. Could He lift us out of the them? Yes. God could make my daughter's tumors fall off today, just like the vision the man praying saw. God could restore my family to closer than before. But sometimes we need to pass through, all the way through.

Why would God want us to pass all the way through? Well, first, His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). He sees more than we see and knows more than we know. God could be protecting us from something worse along our journey. He could be removing toxic environments from our lives. He could be teaching us something to help someone else in the future. He could be positioning us just so to receive what He has for us. And He could be using it for His glory.

No matter why God is allowing us to pass through the trial, we can rest assured that God will be with us the entire way. His hand will be on us keeping us from being overwhelmed and burned. He is there. Friend, whatever trial you are facing, trust God. Trust His ways. Know He is right there with you. as my pastor frequently says, God's got this.

Discussion:
1. Think of a trial you have faced, how did you see God's hand at work?
2. Think of a trial you may be facing right now. How can you lean into God and trust Him?