Go! And Walk Through The Waters With Confidence - Isaiah 43:2 Series

Go! And Walk Through the Waters With Confidence - Isaiah 43:2

INTRODUCTION — A PROMISE FOR THE FIRES AND FLOODS OF LIFE

Some Scriptures whisper comfort. Some speak softly of God’s love. But then there are verses like Isaiah 43:2 that thunder hope into the soul like a divine rescue flare fired across the night sky.

Isaiah 43:2 (NLT):

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;

the flames will not consume you.”

This is not a promise that we might need one day. It is a promise for right now.

This is not poetry meant to decorate a Christian fridge magnet.

This is oxygen for suffocating hearts.

Because every person in this room either has been, is now, or soon will be

walking through waters, rivers, or fire.

The question God confronts us with today is simple:

“Will you walk through them alone—or with Me?”

Today in our Go! And… series, the call is this:

Go! And Walk Through the Waters With Confidence.

Confidence not in yourself—but in the God who saves, sustains, and stays.

1. GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR DEEPEST WATERS

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.”

The Hebrew phrase “deep waters” comes from ????? ??????? (mayim rabbim), meaning overwhelming waters, the kind that can sweep a person away. In the ancient Near East, deep waters symbolised chaos, danger, and forces beyond human control.

This is God saying: “When life goes beyond your ability to handle, I will go beyond your understanding to help.”

Isaiah wrote to a people who had failed, wandered, sinned, and would soon face exile. Their suffering was partly self-inflicted. But God declares He has not abandoned them.

This shows us a critical theological truth:

God’s presence is not cancelled by our failure.

Grace does not evaporate when we stumble.

Psalm 23:4 (NLT): “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.”

David does not rejoice because the valley is pleasant—but because the Shepherd is present.

Max Lucado: “You’ll never be alone—God is with you wherever you go.”

Lucado isn’t offering sentiment—he is declaring Scripture-saturated certainty. The presence of God is the cornerstone of Christian endurance.

Practical Application

hen the diagnosis arrives…

When the marriage cracks…

When the financial strain overwhelms…

When anxiety steals your breath…

God does not shout from the shore, “Swim harder!” He steps into the waters and says, “I’m here.”

2. GOD’S POWER IN OUR RIVERS OF DIFFICULTY

“When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.”

The verb “to drown”—???????????? (tishatfu)—means to be swept away, overwhelmed, or overpowered.

God promises prevention, not exemption.

Exodus 14:21–22 (NLT): "Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!"

Israel faced the Red Sea with no human escape route.

“The Lord opened up a path through the water.”

The same God who parts seas also guides steps.

He is not limited by natural law, human wisdom, or spiritual resistance.

John Piper: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him, especially in suffering.”

Piper reminds us that faith shines brightest when waters rise highest. When we trust God while the river rages, we declare to the world: “My God is greater than my circumstances.”

The Boy in the Flood

A little boy stood trapped on a roof during a flood. Rescuers shouted,

“Jump! We’ll catch you!”

He cried back,

“I can’t see you!”

The rescuers answered,

“But we can see you!”

You may not always see God’s hand…

But He always sees you.

And His grip never fails.

What “river” threatens to sweep you away today?

Fear?

Depression?

Grief?

Temptation?

God does not say the river will disappear.

He says you will not be carried away.

3. GOD’S PROTECTION IN OUR FIERY TRIALS

“When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up.”

The phrase “fire of oppression” uses the Hebrew ???? (esh), fire that purifies or destroys. God promises purification, not destruction.

Daniel 3:24–25 (NLT): "Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

The three Hebrew men walked into the furnace—but were not alone.