“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Isaiah 43:2
Comfort from God does not only come to us after our trial has come to an end, or after we have accepted that it may never end (in this life), but rather, the comfort of God’s presence is with us during our times of grief and loss. The realization of God’s presence is not determined by our emotions, but by embracing scriptural promises by faith, promises like the one quoted above.
These gracious words fell from the lips of the prophet during a time when Israel needed 152 hope the most. In the thought development of his book, Isaiah had already confronted God’s people for their ritualistic, empty worship, idolatry, and pride. As a result of her sin, and God’s loyal, chastening love, they were eventually exiled far from the Promised Land. But God had not abandoned them. So, in Isaiah 40–55, the comfort of God was brought to his people through authoritative promises. One of the most soothing of these
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