…thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.
(Isa. 43:1-2)
Here the Lord is telling us not to fear when we go through trials of different kinds. That means we will experience victory in our lives, but only as we go through. If we are going to go through, then we must no run away anymore.
The Lord has promised to be with us and keep us safe when we go through the water, which will not overwhelm us, and through the fire, which will not burn us or scorch us.
Do you remember the story of the three Hebrew children names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? They were thrown into a fiery furnace but came out of it not only unharmed but not even smelling like smoke! (Dan. 3:1-30.)
There are major fears—like being thrown into a trial similar to a fiery furnace—and there are also minor fears—like being afraid our hair won’t look right!
We may be afraid of something major like cancer or a heart attack or the death of a loved one, or we may be afraid of something minor such as a picnic being rained out or not being able to find a parking place.
But whatever its magnitude or cause, fear is the same and must be dealt with the same way.
Fear must be confronted through prayer with God’s Word. And when we pray, we must believe. Fear is our enemy and we should treat it as such.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A New York Times bestselling author, her books have helped millions of people find hope and restoration through Jesus Christ. Through Joyce Meyer Ministries, she teaches on a number of topics with a particular focus on the mind, mouth, moods and attitudes. Her candid communication style allows her to share openly and practically about her experiences so others can apply what she has learned to their lives.
Joyce hosts a TV and radio show, Enjoying Everyday Life, which broadcasts worldwide to a potential audience of 4.5 billion people. She has authored 100 books, which have been translated into more than 100 languages. More than 12 million of her books have been distributed free of charge around the world, and each year millions of copies are sold.
Joyce conducts close to a dozen domestic and international conferences every year, teaching people to enjoy their everyday lives. For 30 years, her annual women's conference has attracted more than 200,000 women from all over the world to St. Louis for specifically themed teachings by her and guest speakers.
Through her teachings, God has provided opportunities to meet the needs of the suffering and bring the Gospel in a practical way. Joyce's passion to help hurting people every day is foundational to the vision of Hand of Hope, the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. These outreaches around the globe include feeding programs, medical care, homes for orphans, and programs combatting human trafficking. In her hometown of St. Louis, Joyce and Dave, her husband, founded the St. Louis Dream Center (SLDC) in 2000. The SLDC serves the inner city through hands-on programs targeted at reaching the lost and hurting with the love of Christ.
Over the years, God has provided Joyce with many opportunities to share her testimony and the life-changing message of the Gospel. Having suffered sexual abuse throughout her childhood, as well as just dealing with the struggles of everyday life, Joyce discovered the freedom to live victoriously by applying God's Word to her life and in turn desires to help others do the same.
Joyce is and continues to be an incredible testimony of the dynamic, redeeming work of Jesus Christ.