Isaiah 43:1-3b But now thus says he Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, 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 the 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.

Years ago this passage came to my attention because of a contemporary Christian song. I fell in love with the song and then the scripture on which it was based. In fact, that is the way most scripture makes its way into my heart and soul. The Psalms, of course, are meant to be sung, but certain passages lend themselves to music, and this beautiful description of God’s presence with us through the waters and the fires has been especially appropriate over the last few months. Two major hurricanes along the Gulf coast and wildfires ravaging the west may not have directly affected us, but we can still pray for those we know have lost so much. One small town had just had power restored from Laura when Delta was bearing down on them again. I read about one area that won’t have electricity until January. The fires out west are finally being contained, but the cost has been devastating, both in lives and property. So I have prayed this passage more than once while reading the sad news. That is how I pray most days, scrolling through the headlines, pausing to read a few lines to get the main facts, and then lifting up a prayer for those experiencing whatever difficulty, damage or despair. It’s a way of sharing the laments of the world, knowing that there is little I can do except pray and build my own sense of solidarity with the suffering of others.

When we experience the really hard things in life, we may feel overwhelmed, like a flood that just keeps coming, or a fire that dances around us, burning with its intensity, searing with its heat. We may feel surrounded by threatening waters and flames, caught in a place we cannot escape. Isaiah’s words give us assurance that we are not alone in anything, that no matter how overwhelming the experience of the moment,

God speaks to us: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are mine. We belong to God and not to the darkness that overcomes us. God knows our name and claims us as a child of God. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Ancient words still speak to us today, and when they become part of our heart’s song, they are there for us when life gets to be too much. When we don’t have the words to pray, the scriptures give us words of assurance. Do not fear. You are mine. I’ve got you.

Let us pray: Holy One, Savior, Redeemer,

We praise you in the storm and in the fire. We trust that you are with us, that you claim us for your own. Help us to weather life’s storms and fires with trust and gratitude for your presence. You are with us. Help us to be with each other. Amen.

Karen Kagiyama