Walking through fire and not burned

Does anyone read this blog anymore?  Well, for the one or two of you that may...here is my thought for the day:

I have loved Isaiah 43 for a long time.  Especially the first part.  Most especially verse 2 (bolded).

But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

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.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I give Egypt as your ransom,

Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

Because you are precious in my eyes,

and honored, and I love you,

I give men in return for you,

peoples in exchange for your life.

Fear not, for I am with you;

I will bring your offspring from the east,

and from the west I will gather you.

I will say to the north, Give up,

and to the south, Do not withhold;

bring my sons from afar

and my daughters from the end of the earth,

everyone who is called by my name,

whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed and made.”

But the Lord showed me something new this week.  It probably helps that I heard a teaching on living out of your spirit, rather than your soul or body.  BUT I'll take the renewing of my mind any time!  Anyway, I would read that I would pass through waters and I would not be overwhelmed.  And that I would walk through fire and not be burned.  Well, this past year+ has shown me what walking through waters and fire looks like.  Or, experiences of it, as everyone's waters and fires look different.  

But, I was overwhelmed and I was burned.  It hurts.  It's hard.  There aren't usually easy ways out.  

BUT GOD showed me something different this week.  My soul (emotions, thoughts, etc.) and my body may be overwhelmed and burned BUT my spirit isn't/doesn't have to be!  My spirit that resides with the Lord and is in communion with Him truly has the ability to go through anything and come out unscathed.  What a joy and gift!  What a blessing!  What a beautiful picture of the gospel to share with others!

Our circumstances can suck.  Financial problems.  Health problems.  Broken hearts.  Loved ones who make pool decisions affecting you.  All of it.  But our spirits can remain steadfast and we can rise above them.  Hard?  Yes.  Impossible?  Not with the Lord!  Worth it?  Absolutely!