Isaiah 43:1-7
But now the Lord who created you, O
Israel, says: Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called
you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great
trouble, 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, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel. I gave Egypt and
Ethiopia and Seba to Cyrus in exchange for your freedom, as your ransom.
Others died that you might live; I traded their lives for yours because
you are precious to me and honored, and I love you.
Don’t be
afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you from east and west, from
north and south. I will bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from
the farthest corners of the earth. All who claim me as their God will
come, for I have made them for my glory; I created them.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
My mother is mostly
sleeping now, and several family members have gathered to sit with us
and help as needed…including my niece, Jasmine. This is her Granny…the
woman who has nurtured and loved her unendingly for all of her 25+
years. I found Jasmine in her Granny’s office, sitting at Mother’s desk
and reading a book. She said, “I knew this had to be here, and it was
right on top of a stack of books.” If you know my mother, you know that
her desk is stacked and laden with books, papers, notes and all sorts
of important “stuff!” (I should talk! I am my mother’s daughter!)
The “book” that Jasmine found was her journal…or rather, a hand-written
journal that my mother has kept for my niece since 1992. She didn’t
write in it EVERY day, but on a regular basis, Mother wrote her thoughts
to Jasmine – about anything and everything – but especially about her
Christian faith. And the entries are as recent as the end of October
2015. There is an entry for the day Mother learned that she had
cancer…and another as she prepared for chemotherapy.
There was
also an entry for one day in October in which Mother stated that “you
are not to worry.” She cited these beginning verses in Isaiah 43.
Through this journal, my mother is still comforting us…even today, as she slips away from us and can no longer speak directly to us. And these words are comforting!
If
I substitute my mother’s name – or my own – for the word “you,” the
image is profound. “Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed Arline; I have
called Arline by name; she is mine. When Arline goes through deep waters
and great trouble, I will be with her. When Debbie goes through rivers
of difficulty, she will not drown! When Debbie walks through the fire of
oppression, she will not be burned up—the flames will not consume
her.” Take these verses and insert your own name. Let the comfort and
assurance of God’s love and care penetrate the depths of your heart.
Listen to the words of my mother, and remind yourself that “you are not
to worry.”
This morning, my cousin said “Good-bye” to my mother
and traveled to his home, some four hours away. As he left, I hugged him
closely and told him that we are going to be okay…that Jesus has us
securely in His hands. “Remember this!” I told him. His response was,
“You, too!” I assured him that I will…that my hope in Jesus is all that
keeps me going.
I’m so glad that Jasmine found the journal. I
know that my mother has written from her heart…and that her thoughts and
words were guided by the Holy Spirit. They will have profound meaning
for Jasmine and her children…just as my cousin’s visit with my mother
will impact him from this day forward.
I pray that you will take
these verses to heart and make them part of your hope…that you will
trust in Jesus to see you through deep waters and great trouble.
Remember that “you are not to worry,” and trust God to hold you securely
in His hands – this day…and always.
©2016 Debbie Robus
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