God’s Own

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name.

You are mine. Isaiah 43, verse 1. Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

God's Own was written and read by Sochul Dixon. Isaiah chapter 43, verses 1 through 7. But now, this is what the Lord says, He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel, do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name.

You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. And when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.

The flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, give them up, and to the south, do not hold them back. Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.

Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. God's Own One day, while serving as my mom's live-in caregiver, we visited an art exhibit. We were emotionally and physically drained. I gazed at two wooden rowboats filled with colorful blown glass shapes inspired by Japanese fishing lures and flower arrangements. The display, ikibana and float boats, was situated in front of a black wall on a reflective surface. Speckled, spotted, and striped glass orbs, like oversized gumballs, were piled into the surface. Were piled into the smaller boat. From the hull of the second boat, long, twisted, and curved glass sculptures rose like vibrant flames.

The artist had shaped each piece of molten glass through the refining fires of the glassblowing process. Tears streaked my cheeks as I imagined God's caring hand holding me and my mom, his beloved children, through our hardest days. As God shapes the character of his people through refining fires in life, he affirms that our hope comes from being known and knowing we belong to him. According to Isaiah 43 verse 2, we can't escape hardship, but God promises to protect us and be present.

His identity and his love for us make his promises secure. When life circumstances heat up, we may feel fragile. We may even be fragile. But God holds us firmly in love.

No matter how blazing hot the furnace gets, we are known. We are loved. We are his.

Let's pray. Loving God, thank you for holding us, molding us, and reminding us that we are yours. That we are yours. We love you and we praise you. In Jesus' name. Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. Why does knowing you belong to God bring you hope during times of affliction? How has God used refining fires to shape your character?