That night I sat on the floor like a woman mourning in a Cameroonian home after a death. No one had died for me, but I was grieving nonetheless.
Tears streamed down my face. I trembled with anger and poured out my heart to God, asking why He would allow me to endure such pain. I shouted at Him in the rawness of my hurt.
I felt shattered, unable to see any sliver of hope. Negative thoughts crowded my mind, and the more I dwelt on them, the deeper my despair became.
After a long internal struggle to rest and focus on anything positive, a verse came to mind. It was Isaiah 43:2: “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.” (Isaiah 43:2, NKJV)
What stood out was the word “when,” not “if.” God doesn’t say, “if you walk through the fire,” as though it might not happen. He says, “when you walk through the fire,” which acknowledges that such seasons are inevitable.
Understanding that changed my perspective. Trials and painful seasons come to everyone. They’re times when it can feel as if everything is collapsing and God is distant.
But the promise is clear: “When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” The flame isn’t there to destroy you; it is meant to refine and purify.
As someone who cooks often, I know both the danger and the usefulness of fire. Fire can burn, but it also enables me to grill, fry, sauté, and bake—to create good, nourishing food. Heat makes those results possible.
In the same way, the fire in your life can shape and strengthen you.
Those difficult moments help form the person God intends you to become. Trials develop character, build resilience, and deepen faith. They aren’t random punishments but refining processes that prepare and strengthen you.
Most importantly, God is with you through it all. When you face hardship, when your heart aches and your eyes are swollen with tears, when restful sleep eludes you, He is close. You will pass through and emerge stronger.
When I accepted that truth that night, my anger toward God softened and peace took its place. I even found a surprising gratitude for trials—because they are the very moments that build and shape us.
Remember:
“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.” Isaiah 43:2, NKJV
