Fires and Storms

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee
by thy name; thou art mine.
Isaiah 43:1

I have no doubts whatsoever that the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth, loves me. He cares for my well-being, and He has promised in the Holy Scriptures that He will never leave or forsake me...

​But the Lord also tells those who belong to Him that we will sometimes find ourselves in very difficult situations because life has its challenges and hardships.

I have been seeing the reality of this. Lately the housing unit I live in has been in a state of upheaval.
The cell block seems louder and wilder than usual. There has also been more fights, and even a couple of assaults on staff. Prison, obviously, by its very intent as a place of punishment, has always been known as an environment of pent-up anger and frustration. It is not a happy place by any means.

Yet my hope is in the Lord. He is my source of inner strength, self-control and patience. Most, assuredly I can do all things through Christ who gives me the ability to endure and prosper.

Nevertheless, the trials and challenges can sometimes get hot. Even the waters of trouble will storm and rage. But God's promise to me is that the fires of affliction will not burn me. And all violent storms will pass me by.

D. B.