"But now, this is what the Lord says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 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 fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons form afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth - everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.'" Isaiah 43:1-7
This is a perfect passage to read when you feel fear or when you are doubting yourself. Right now, He is calling on Jacob - one of the first people called on by God. The Israelites didn't do what God wanted them to do - they went other directions like people today. They were not strangers to disasters. At this point, God is ANGRY. God has redeemed His people, He brought them from exile. When you need protection, when the storm is the fiercest, fix your gaze on Christ alone. Anything broken can be restored. God saved these Israelites. They allowed for other God's, but He redeemed them. God wants to redeem us - we are His chosen people. Don't forget about what He gives us. He will carry you through the tragedy of the world. He will restore His people back to the way He wants them to be. The last time God was angry, the Red Sea split. God will protect you from the fire. He loves you - He wants to redeem and restore His people. He brings us to a place of restoration - you will never be able to tell something was missing.
I just recently finished "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. I had no idea what this novel was going to be about going into it; all I knew was that our 10th grade English class study it. Right off the bat I noticed that our narrator was not your average Joe. The narrator is death. When I realized this I said to myself, "Oh this is going to be good." The novel is all about the Holocaust and it is shown from a German point of view. Leisel Meminger's mother gives her away to a foster German family. On the trip to this new family, Leisel's brother dies. So right from the start death is there. I'm not going to give you a synopsis of it, because I think you should read it for yourself. Just know that a German family hides a Jew in their basement for a while, and death is around every corner. That last line of the novel really got me though..."I am haunted by humans."
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