Itsy bitsy spider Sanctification

Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they all not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. nor shall the flame scorch you."

Do you feel the floods and flames of crazy going on in our Nation? Law enforcement seems to be protecting criminals and criminalizing victims. Our Government claims itself the stalwart against racism while obnubilating its push for more racism. Probity is seen as a negative, and self-righteousness is the asset. An irascible response is understandable. We are being drowned in chaos and bedlam.

Marlon and I have some things going on where we worship that are troubling our souls. We can't share them with anyone because that is not what God would call us to do at the moment. We have family concerns and deaths that have added emotional weight to our hearts. I am sure many of you have your own "multi-colored" trials going on. That is how James 1 labels them. When life goes in this direction, it is not easy.

Last night as Marlon and I prayed I started singing, "the itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Out came the sun and dried up all the rain, then the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again." I was reminded that the spider was washed down but not washed out. He made it through the deluge of his storm. The waters might have covered him, but they did not drown him. They may have brought a great amount of fear, but he got back up again by faith. Yes, I am speaking hyperbolically, but my point, I am sure, has been made.

Going from a child's nursery rhyme about a spider ascending, descending, and reascending to our real-life "waterspouts." The passage from Isaiah is such a reassuring Scripture. While Isaiah was speaking specifically to Israel concerning a situation they would face, God continues this promise to the Church. Each of us can know with certainty that God offers us strength in our weakness; no temptation comes that isn't common to man, and God provides a way of escape. The promise in Scripture to reascend our "waterspouts" is found in James 1:12 "Blessed is the one (the itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout) who perseveres under trial (down came the rain and washed the spider out) because, having stood the test, (out came the sun and dried up all the rain) that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." (And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.)