Text: Philippians 1:6; Isaiah 43:2
Introduction
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you wondered, “How am I going to make it through this?”
Perhaps it was a health problem, a financial difficulty, a family crisis, a broken relationship, a frightening diagnosis, or a burden that seemed too heavy to carry.
Many believers have discovered that God often leads His people into places they would never choose on their own. Yet when God brings His people to a trial, He also provides what is needed to make it through the trial.
God declared:
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee…” (Isaiah 43:2)
Notice He did not say we would never face waters, rivers, fire, storms, or trials. He promised that He would be with us in them.
The Bible repeatedly teaches this truth:
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
I. God Brings His People Through the Waters
The Red Sea
The Israelites stood trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea.
Behind them was destruction. Before them was an impossible obstacle.
The people panicked, but Moses said:
“Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.” (Exodus 14:13)
God parted the waters and made a path where there was no path.
What looked like the end became the beginning of a miracle.
Sometimes God allows us to reach a place where human solutions disappear so that His power becomes unmistakable.
The Jordan River
Years later another generation faced another body of water.
The Jordan River overflowed its banks. Yet God told the priests carrying the ark to step into the water.
The river did not stop first.
The priests had to obey first.
When their feet touched the water, God opened the way.
Many times God’s provision follows obedience rather than preceding it.
Faith takes the first step and then watches God work.
II. God Brings His People Through Fear
Elijah and Jezebel
After defeating the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Elijah received a death threat from Jezebel.
The mighty prophet ran.
He became discouraged, exhausted, and afraid.
God did not abandon Elijah.
Instead, God sent an angel with food, water, encouragement, and direction.
God led Elijah to Horeb and spoke to him in a still, small voice.
The lesson is simple:
Even God’s strongest servants have moments of weakness.
When God’s people cannot continue in their own strength, God supplies His strength.
Esther
Esther faced an impossible decision.
If she approached the king uninvited, she could be executed.
If she remained silent, her people could perish.
Mordecai reminded her:
“Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
God had already positioned Esther exactly where she needed to be before the crisis arrived.
Sometimes God is preparing the answer before we even see the problem.
III. God Brings His People Through Fire
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
The king commanded them to bow before an idol.
They refused.
As a result, they were thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter than normal.
God did not stop them from entering the furnace.
Instead, He joined them there.
Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fire and saw a fourth person walking with them.
The men came out unharmed.
The fire burned their ropes but not their bodies.
Often God’s purpose is not to keep us from every fire.
Sometimes He uses the fire to remove what binds us while proving His presence.
IV. God Brings His People Through Suffering
Joseph
Joseph’s life seemed to move from one hardship to another.
He was betrayed by his brothers. Sold as a slave. Falsely accused. Thrown into prison.
For years it appeared that God had forgotten him.
But God was working behind the scenes.
Eventually Joseph became governor of Egypt and saved countless lives.
What others intended for evil, God used for good.
God may be doing His greatest work when we can see the least evidence of it.
Paul and Silas
After preaching the gospel, Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned.
At midnight they prayed and sang praises.
Then God sent an earthquake.
The prison doors opened.
The chains fell off.
More importantly, the jailer and his household came to faith in Christ.
What appeared to be a setback became an opportunity for salvation.
God often transforms our suffering into ministry.
V. God Brings His People Through Storms
The Disciples and Jesus in the Boat
Jesus said:
“Let us pass over unto the other side.” (Mark 4:35)
The disciples obeyed.
A violent storm arose.
The boat filled with water.
Jesus was asleep.
The disciples feared for their lives.
When they awakened Him, Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea.
Immediately there was calm.
The important thing is that Jesus had already said they were going to the other side.
The storm never changed the destination.
If God has spoken, the storm cannot cancel His promise.
The Disciples Without Jesus
On another occasion Jesus sent the disciples across the sea while He remained behind.
The wind was against them.
The waves battered them.
They struggled for hours.
But Scripture says Jesus saw them.
Then He came walking on the water.
The disciples thought they were alone.
They were not.
The same is true for us.
God sees every struggle, every tear, every burden, and every prayer.
VI. God Brings His People Through Shipwrecks
Paul’s Storm at Sea
For many days Paul’s ship was caught in a terrible storm.
The crew lost hope.
People expected death.
Yet God sent assurance through His angel.
The ship would be lost, but the people would survive.
Eventually the vessel broke apart, but every person reached shore safely.
Sometimes God saves us differently than we expect.
He may not preserve everything around us.
But He always keeps His promises.
VII. God Brings His People Through Death Itself
Lazarus
Lazarus became sick and died.
Four days passed.
Hope seemed gone.
Then Jesus arrived.
Standing before the tomb, He cried:
“Lazarus, come forth.”
And Lazarus walked out alive.
The situation was impossible for man but not for God.
Jesus Christ
The greatest example in Scripture is Jesus Himself.
The Father led Him to the cross.
There was betrayal. Mocking. Suffering. Death. Burial.
To human eyes it appeared that darkness had won.
Yet on the third day Jesus rose from the grave.
The resurrection proves that God can bring victory out of apparent defeat.
If God could bring His Son through the grave, He can bring His children through any trial they face.
VIII. Not Every Situation Is One God Led Us Into
While God is faithful to bring us through the trials He allows or leads us through, we must also recognize that sometimes we find ourselves in difficult situations because of our own choices, disobedience, impatience, or lack of wisdom.
The prodigal son found himself in a far country feeding pigs because he chose to leave his father’s house (Luke 15:11-17). The suffering he experienced was not because God had led him there. The solution was not to stay in the pigpen. The solution was to repent and return home.
Jonah found himself in the belly of a great fish because he ran from God’s command. God did bring Jonah through that experience, but Jonah’s first step was to stop running and turn back toward God’s will.
Sometimes believers pray, “Lord, help me get through this,” when the better prayer is, “Lord, should I even be here?”
Before asking God to help us stay in a situation, we should ask Him whether He wants us to remain in it at all.
If God led you there, trust Him to sustain you.
If God did not lead you there, seek His wisdom and ask Him to show you the way out.
The Bible tells us:
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverb. 3:5-6)
Conclusion
God brought Noah through the flood.
He brought Israel through the Red Sea.
He brought Joshua through the Jordan.
He brought Elijah through fear.
He brought Esther through danger.
He brought three Hebrew men through the fire.
He brought Daniel through the lions’ den.
He brought Joseph through suffering.
He brought Paul through prison.
He brought the disciples through storms.
He brought Lazarus through death.
Most importantly, He brought Jesus through the grave.
The same God is still at work today.
You may be facing deep waters.
You may be facing a furnace.
You may be facing a storm.
You may be facing a burden that seems impossible.
Take comfort in this truth:
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
He may not remove the trial immediately.
He may not answer in the way you expect.
But He will be with you, strengthen you, guide you, and carry you until His purpose is accomplished.
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
Amen.
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