Isaiah 43:1-4
Thus says the Lord:
… Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God…..
4 …..you are precious in my sight,
and honored, and I love you.
A Reflection from Spiritual Director – Francie Thayer
It is now week #48, according to some sources, of life in pandemic mode, courtesy of Covid-19. It is little wonder that there is Covid-fatigue, -burn out, -exhaustion, and any number of other -nouns to describe how we each are feeling just now.
As I sit with the promises in this scripture, I am beyond grateful to know that I am not alone in these waters, that the rivers will not overwhelm me, that the fire will not burn me, and the flame will not consume me. It’s so good to have these promises printed on the page as reminder, because I have felt alone, overwhelmed, burnt and consumed more frequently in the last 48 weeks than any 48-week period I can remember.
This is like a marathon, where pace and steadiness are our best chance of flourishing. I think of another time I was in a marathon in a life situation. At that time, I had between 1 and 3 children (offspring) under the age of 5 in my household whom I was looking after. That marathon lasted for 7 years. I wish I had known this scripture from Isaiah then. I might have copied it and taped it over the changing table.
For now, I print this passage on sticky notes and post them on my bathroom mirror, on the lid of my laptop, on the kitchen counter by the coffeepot. I need this reminder many times a day. God’s Great Love, God’s Great Presence, is with me at every moment of every day. At this point in the marathon, I need the reminder and encouragement regularly in the midst of the day.
I am not alone. I will not drown. I will not be consumed.
And if I can hear that and get outside of myself just a little bit, I keep reading. That’s where I hear that I am precious, and honored, and loved.
I am not alone. I will not drown. I will not be consumed.
I am precious. I am honored. I am loved.
A message in the marathon totally worth pausing to absorb as I pour another cup of coffee.