DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY - SWIMMING IN THE DEEP END. Part 2.

A clay pot sitting in the sun will always be a clay pot. It has to go through the white heat of the furnace to become porcelain. - Mildred W. Struven.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; – Isaiah 43:2a. ESV

Yesterday we were reminded that when we get into "deep water," and we can’t touch bottom, it seems like we are about to drown, it seems like we might not make it back to safety this time. But we have the assurance that our God is with us. He reminds us that He will be with us and that the water will not overwhelm us, He will intervene and deliver us. Hallelujah! What an awesome God we serve!

First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child. Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last, In His good time He can bring me out again--how and when He knows. Let me say I am here, (1) By God's appointment, (2) In His keeping, (3) Under His training, (4) For His time. - Andrew Murray.

“I WILL BE WITH YOU” - MEANS GOD WILL BE THERE
When we get into the deep end and there are signs of trouble, the enemy wants to frighten us, he wants us to be afraid! But Jesus says...

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. - John 14:27. If Jesus says, "Don’t be afraid," then what do you think the devil is going to want us to do?

God wants us to swim in faith... for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. - 2Tim 1:7. The devil desires us to drown in fear, and wants us to think, that what we are going through is so big, not even God can get us out of it. FEAR is... False Evidence Against Reality!

It is important that at all times, we remember that He hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power, love, and self-control! Hallelujah! What an awesome God we serve! Bondage is fear, and we are set free by Jesus!

He has given us power, to meet our dangers and enemies! He has given us love; there is no fear in love, and perfect love casts out all fear! He has given us self-control, by which we may see things clearly, and to keep us balanced in all things! Hallelujah!

Joe Scriven was a missionary from Ireland to Canada, working among the Iroquois Indians. He was joined by his fiancé who was also from Ireland. Just before the wedding, she was killed in an ice accident. Joe buried her with his own hands, and a broken heart. A year later, in a letter to his mother, he reflected,

"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief’s to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer." Joe was on the road to triumph, even though there were times when the road was rough. - Source Unknown.

God Saves In The Midst Of The Flood
Does it seem like we are not going to make it? Does it seem like all hope is lost? Does it seem like all of our dreams have been destroyed? We need to realise that God saves in the midst of the flood... You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. - Psa 23:5.

God doesn’t say, "I’ll be watching from the bank while you all get washed down stream." He doesn’t say, "If you find yourselves in the flood, it’s already too late." NO! God says, “When we pass through the waters, I will be there!” Hallelujah!

A holidaymaker watched with curiosity as a lumberman occasionally jabbed his sharp hook into a log, separating it from the others that were floating down a mountain stream. When asked why he did this, the worker replied,

"These may all look alike to you, but a few of them are quite different. The ones I let pass are from trees that grew in a valley where they were always protected from the storms. Their grain is coarse. The ones I've hooked and kept apart from the rest came from high up on the mountains. From the time they were small, they were beaten by strong winds. This toughens the trees and gives them a fine and beautiful grain. We save them for choice work. They're too good to make into plain lumber."

Friends, God often allows some of His dearest saints to be bent by trial or buffeted by the winds of adversity so that they may be strengthened for His service and prepared to fulfil His highest purposes. – Source unknown.

In the gospels Jesus walked on the water, because He was demonstrating that no matter what the problem or obstacle… He can beat it! We don’t want to get in the water, and we especially don’t want to get out in deep water. We want God to deliver us before we get that far, but God is saying, "Come on out here and learn to swim."

If we never get into water that’s deeper than our ankles, we will never learn to swim.

Loving Father, I thank you that when I am going through trial and troubles, you will be with me and I will not be harmed! Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to use my experiences to help others see the light, at the end of their tunnels! In Jesus wonderful name I pray! Amen!

TOMORROW: “they shall not overwhelm you.”

GBYAY