Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Tyler Connoley):
It was a beautiful morning with blue skies as my sister, my father, and I set out for a local waterfall. Martha and I wanted to get our hiking badges, and that required an all-day hike. The plan was to spend the morning walking to the waterfall, eating lunch, and then walking home.
As we crossed the final field, storm clouds began to gather. We didn’t think much of it, since we were focused on getting to the waterfall. But as we sat down to eat our lunch, the clouds let loose with a torrent, and lightening flashed. “Get your stuff,” Dad said. “We need to head home.”
We scurried across the field, afraid of lightening strikes. By the time we reached the dirt road, it looked like a river. The water reached our knees, but we needed to get home, where we could be safe and dry, so we waded in. Martha walked on one side of Dad, and I walked on the other. It was slow going. The constant sight of the moving water under my feet disoriented me, but I trudged on. It felt good having Dad next to me.
Then, Martha slipped and fell into a deep rut in the dirt road. The water came up to her shoulders as it tried to sweep her away. Dad grabbed her by the arm and yanked against the current. He managed to pull her out without losing his balance. From then on, we held hands, walking together until we finally reach the safety of home.
This is what I always think of when I read this Scripture. God is like my father, holding our hands as we walked through the troubled water. He didn’t keep us out of the water, but he was there ready to grab us out of harms way at a moment’s notice. Because God is bigger than any human, God is also like my mother, waiting at home with dry towels, fresh clothes, and a cup of hot cocoa to warm us.
Thought for the day: What troubled water are you facing? God doesn’t promise to be a bridge over it, but God will walk through it with you, and God will be waiting with fresh clothes on the other side.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.