I’m the type person who’s always looking for “signs” out and about each day. Especially when they involve numbers of any sort and of course, those are everywhere to be found on license plates. On my way to get a bit to eat this morning, I spotted a car in front of me at a stoplight with a personalized tag that read simply “Isaiah 43.” I also noticed that the car changed lanes just as the light turned green and took another route. So I just happened to be at the right place at the right time at the right sequence of lights to be able to see the message. And me being the person I am, I knew I needed to investigate what Isaiah 43 was all about.
After getting a bite to eat for breakfast, I headed to my home-away-from home, Barnes & Noble and sought out a Bible to do some research. The “Bible aisle” was rather crowded, so I picked up “The Message” translation of the good book, which was right in front of me. And here’s what I had to share about Isaiah 43:
When You’re Between a Rock and a Hard Place
43 1-4 But now, God’s Message,
the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
the One who got you started, Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
Holy Bible
So the message to me on this Saturday morning was easy to decipher — whatever situations I might be facing in life, God is there for me and will never abandon me. I have a painting in my bedroom that I’ll share on another day. It shows a ship being tossed and turned in a storm on the high seas. And this reading from Isaiah reminded me of that type of storm that can happen in all of our lives.
These past twenty months have not been easy for any of us. With the pandemic still in full force, it’s almost like a nightmare that will never end. As if life wasn’t difficult enough as it is, we are all pressed to the limit and long for the days before things got so complicated.
So as I went about the rest of my day, I was assured that there will always be those fears in my life, there is the Good Shepherd that will always be with me. As far as I’m able to turn my will and my life over to His loving care, I will be able to find calm amidst the storms in life.
David Lee
David Lee 