What do you do when you need a turn around in your life?
In John 16:33 Jesus said, “In this life, you will have trials, frustrations, hardships, and distress. But be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.”
Most of us can relate. We need things to turn around!
Joseph went through so many things that seemed unfair and difficult.
His family did not believe him. His brothers turned against him. He was sold as a slave, tested and tried. He was put into prison.
Isaiah was given some special words for God’s people who need things to turn around.
Isaiah 43:1-3 NKJV “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God…
Through every situation you go through, keep these words always before you.
God says, “Fear not…”
Do you find it a challenge facing the things that are happening in your life? High waters and raging fires of trials, tests, hardships, and distresses cause many people to fear. What are you supposed to do when you are facing circumstance that you have no control over?
God said, “Fear not!”
God told His people to not fear 38 times in the Book of Isaiah. Obviously, God knows we will go through some difficulties. God wants to remind His people that He knows how to fix things for you. You can gain some peace, strength and courage from the Lord your God. Remind yourself that God is your Maker. It was God Who formed and covered you while you were in your mother’s womb. God has redeemed you and claimed you as His own. He knows what you are made of and He knows all of the details of your life and form. He knows your heart, mind, and body. He knows your past and your future. He knows your weaknesses and strengths.
God said, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you.”
When you are facing trials, frustrations, hardships, and distress, you need to know that God is your Redeemer. That word REDEEMED means “God will get you out of your troubles, trials, frustrations, hardships, and distresses.” Redemption identifies how God will do this. He will pay the price so you can go free. He will take vengeance on the adversary of your heart, mind, and body. He will come to your aid and lift you out. God will turn it around for you.
We have a Redeemer!
Job said, “I know that my Redeemer lives.” He told Moses, “I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under your burdens.” Solomon said, “Their Redeemer is mighty; He will plead their cause.” Jeremiah said, “Their Redeemer is strong; The Lord of Host is His name.” God told Isaiah, “Your Redeemer will help you.”
Even when you did not know Him, God called you, redeemed and saved you.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.”
In Isaiah 42:6 God said, “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You… God has identified you by your name and He has claimed you. When God identifies you as His own, He will take you through and turn things around in your life. No one else may understand who you are or what you are going through, but God sees you in your distresses. He knows everything about your strengths and weaknesses. He said, “I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” There is something special about that. God knows you!
God knows how to deal with the flood and fire of your life.
Don’t get stuck in the things you are going through. You are going to pass through the waters of difficulties. You will have some rains of troubles and raging floods of uncertainties. You will face some fiery trials.
God said, “I will be with you.” “I will hold your hand.”
When you are going through the fire or through the flood keep going. God is with you!
God said, “I will not leave you.”
Don’t give up on God! He has promised that He will bring you through. You don’t have to know when, where or how, all you have to know is what God has said. The Almighty God has promised that He will be with you and not forsake you. He has promised to make a way where there is no way. Keep holding on to your faith and trust in God. When you are at an impasse and don’t know what to do, God knows the way that you should take. God will not be a silent partner.
The reason the water does not overflow and the flame does not consume is the Lord our God has said, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper,” (Isaiah 54:17).
He has subdued kingdoms, stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire, (Hebrews 11:33-34).
We cannot do this without the Lord on our side.
He will be your Comfort and Strength. He will be your Healer and Restorer. He will be your Way Maker, Miracle Worker and Light in the darkness. He will be your Savior and Redeemer. God will turn it around.
God knows how to turn things around in your life.
Lamentations 3:22 NKJV Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
Since God will show up in power to show you His mercy, you can face that giant, flood and fire. When you cannot find a way, God knows the way through the dead end.
Remember, when Israel came out of Egypt, they came to what looked like a dead end.
Mountains were on the left and right. The armies of Egypt were behind them and the Red Sea was in front of them. They began to despair when they could not see a way. God is not hindered when you don’t know what to do. When they did not have a way, God opened the Red Sea and made a way where there seemed to be no way.
Peter was in prison and Herod was ready to have him put to death the next day, (Acts 12).
Just before Herod was about to bring him out, and angel of the Lord stood by him and said, “Arise quickly!” and the chains fell off. Peter was brought out of prison because God turns things around.
King Darius threw Daniel into the lions den, but Daniel knew that God is greater than lions, (Daniel 6:20-22).
Daniel was not hurt because God was able to keep him and shut the mouths of lions. Daniel came out of the lions den because God was with him.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.
Maybe you are not facing a lion or a dead-end situation.
Remember the widow of Zarephath that was out of food, (1Kings 17)
She told the man of God, “I only have a handful of meal and a little oil.” She was getting ready to bake her last meal, eat it, and die. God multiplied the meal and the oil and she, her son, and Elijah ate for many days.
In 2 Kings 4, a woman whose husband was a prophet was widowed and left in destitution.
Her creditor was coming to take her two sons to be his slaves. She had nothing in her house but a small jar of oil. Elisha told her to borrow as many empty vessels as she could and shut her door and start pouring oil into those vessels. When every vessel was full, God turned her situation around and she was able to pay all of her debt.
God will turn it around for you!
Nothing is too hard for the Lord, He will turn it around for you.
