Fear Not, God Is With You . -Samuel Dhinakaran

“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.” (Isaiah 43:2)When my sister and I were young, our dad wanted to teach us swimming. He took us to a deep swimming pool. Without wasting any time, he threw us both in deep water! We were panicking, and I was panting for breath and cried “Dad, save me!” He directed us to flap our way up, and we did.  We began coming up the water! Yes, we learnt it the hard way! Though God never pushes us into life’s sea of struggles, He extends His grace to lift us from it when we flap and struggle to come out of it.  Yes, He reaches out His gracious hand and gently embraces you to Him.  When life is hard, do not lean on your own strength.  It will disappoint you. But rely on His strength and watch out His amazing ways of escape!

In the Bible, we read about Jonah who was thrown into the sea and God sent a fish to swallow him. God graciously gave my grandfather Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran a vision in which he met Jonah in heaven.  Jonah told him, “You know when I was in the belly of the fish, the digestive juices would come from all sides and smother me to digest me.  But in the midst of it, I saw the grace of God covering me and protecting me from being digested. Even though God sent me into the fish, He protected me with His grace so that nothing could damage me. I learnt the power of His grace that day.” Are you crying out to the Lord saying, ‘Why these troubles O Lord? When I desire to follow You, why have You allowed all these struggles?’  Here is a nice pair of goggles – the promise of God through which you can see clearly the good God, “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” (Isaiah 43:2). Beloved, He will not allow you to be shattered. He will send His grace to cover you and protect you in this process.  Amidst the problems that are sinking you, you will listen the voice of God.  His grace will protect you from the wiles of the devil.  Even now, turn your eyes to Jesus. Cast all your doubts and anxieties to this good God and enjoy His grace. Bible assures, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).