I love Isaiah 43. This is how Jesus spoke it in my ear this morning. And it completely reduced me to tears all over again to be reminded in a fresh way this morning of His love. This is how He translated it for me today.
1 But now, this is what God says—
he who created you,
he who formed you:
“Don’t be afraid or anxious or timid, I have compensated for your bad choices, failures and mistakes;
I have urgently called you by name; you are mine – all mine.
2 When you pass through these waters of doubt,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through these rivers of distress,
I won’t let them drown you.
When you walk through this fire of despair,
you will not be burned;
the flames won’t set you ablaze or consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One, your Savior…
I gave everything for your ransom,
my life in your place.
4 Since you are precious and honored and lovely in my sight,
and because I love you more than words can describe,
I laid down my life in exchange for you, for your life.
5 Don’t be afraid. I’m right here with you;
I will take good care of you and your children and your children’s children.
6 I will protect them and guide them just like I’ve done for you.
7This is true for everyone who has taken my name as their own,
everyone I created for my glory,
everyone I formed and made.”
8 Lead those who have eyes but are blind,
and the ones who have ears but are deaf. All those who have gotten lost along the way…
10 “You are my witnesses,” God has declared,
“and my workers whom I have chosen,
so that everyone may know me and believe in me
and understand that I am who I say I am – God.
There has never been, and there will never be, anyone like me.
11 I am your God,
there is no savior other than me.
12 I have revealed this to you and saved you and proclaimed this message—
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
13 Yes, and from the beginning of time I have always been God.
No one can take anything or anyone out of my hand or force any action from my hand.
When I act, who can change it?”
16 This is what the Lord says—
he who made a way through the sea, (like that sea of doubt)
a path through the raging waters, (those rivers of distress)
17 who brought out the chariots and horses,
the army and their reinforcements together,
and they lay there, destroyed, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: (like the fire of despair)
18 “Forget the former things that plagued you;
don’t dwell in or on the past.
19 Look! I am doing a new thing!
Now it’s springing up; don’t you see it?
I am making a new, clear way in the middle of nowhere
and fresh streams in this former wasteland.
20 Even wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I give water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
I offer a drink to my desperately thirsty people, you whom I’ve urgently called by name,
21 you whom I formed for myself
so you could shout my praises.
25 “I am the One who whites out
your failures, your mistakes, your bad choices, for my own sake.
I don’t even remember them.
I LOVE YOU!!!!
