I want to encourage you to take a moment and reflect on everything God has brought you through. The trials you’ve faced were not wasted—they were part of God’s plan to bring you to this point. And because you’re still here, you can trust that He is still working on you, through you, and for your good.
[00:00:37] Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock. The Bible Speaks is a daily
[00:00:44] podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, rightly dividing the word
[00:00:50] of truth and learning how to apply it to our daily lives. You may contact Elgin at the address
[00:00:57] given at the end of the broadcast. And now here's Elgin.
[00:01:02] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of our risen Savior, Jesus the Christ,
[00:01:08] to another episode of Words of Inspiration. And today's episode is titled, He Brought You
[00:01:17] This Far. Our inspiration comes from Isaiah chapter 43 verse 2 and reading from the New
[00:01:27] Living Translation. It reads, When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go
[00:01:35] through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression,
[00:01:41] you will not be burned up. The flames will not consume you. This verse reminds us of God's
[00:01:50] faithfulness through every trial and challenge we've faced. The fact that we're still here
[00:01:56] today is proof of His sustaining power. It's a reminder that all the things we've been through,
[00:02:04] no matter how overwhelming they seem, were designed to bring us to this very moment.
[00:02:09] And because we're still here, we know that God is still working on us, through us, and for our good.
[00:02:18] So let's take a moment to reflect on the challenges you face in your life. Maybe there were moments
[00:02:24] when you thought you couldn't make it, when the deep waters or the fires of oppression felt too much to
[00:02:31] bear. But here you are, still standing. Why? Because God never left your side. Isaiah 43 and 2
[00:02:43] assures us that no matter what we go through, God is with us. The waters don't overwhelm us and the fire
[00:02:51] doesn't consume us because His presence is our protection. Every trial, no matter how difficult,
[00:02:59] has a purpose. It's shaping us, strengthening us, and preparing us for what's next. As Romans 8 and 28
[00:03:08] reminds us, and we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been
[00:03:16] called according to His purpose. It's easy to look back at our struggles and wonder why we had to go
[00:03:23] through them. But trusting God means believing that His process is perfect, even when we don't understand
[00:03:31] it. The journey may be hard, but it's leading us to a place of growth, purpose, and victory.
[00:03:39] Think about the Israelites in the wilderness. Their journey to the promised land was full of challenges,
[00:03:46] yet God provided for them every step of the way. He gave them manna when they were hungry, water when they
[00:03:54] were thirsty, and guidance through a pillar of fire and cloud. They had to trust this process, even when it seems
[00:04:03] like they were wandering aimlessly. In the same way, we must trust that God is working everything out for our good.
[00:04:11] Even when we can't see the full picture, we can rest in the knowledge that His plans are always better than ours.
[00:04:20] While God is working on us and through us, He also has expectations for how we live as believers.
[00:04:28] He calls us to stay faithful, even when life is hard. Our faith must remain steadfast.
[00:04:38] Hebrews 10 and 23 says,
[00:04:40] Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
[00:04:49] Reflect His love
[00:04:51] As we grow in faith, we're called to reflect God's love to others.
[00:04:56] Every trial we overcome is an opportunity to encourage and uplift someone else.
[00:05:03] Follow the Holy Spirit
[00:05:05] God has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us, comfort us, and lead us into His truth.
[00:05:11] Listening to the Spirit helps us stay aligned with God's will, even when the path is unclear.
[00:05:20] The fact that you're still here means God isn't finished with you yet.
[00:05:25] Your journey isn't over, and the best is still ahead.
[00:05:30] But moving forward requires that we consistently remind ourselves of God's promises, trust His process, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.
[00:05:42] Philippians 1 verse 6 encourages us,
[00:05:46] Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
[00:05:58] God's faithfulness in your past is proof of His faithfulness for your future.
[00:06:04] Whatever challenges lie ahead, you can face them with confidence, knowing that He will bring you through.
[00:06:11] Brothers and sisters, I want to encourage you to take a moment and reflect on everything God has brought you through.
[00:06:18] The trials you faced were not wasted.
[00:06:21] They were part of God's plan to bring you to this point.
[00:06:25] And because you're still here, you can trust that He is still working on you, through you, and for your good.
[00:06:34] Remember, Isaiah 43 and 2,
[00:06:37] God is with you in the deep waters.
[00:06:40] In the rivers of difficulty, and in the fires of oppression,
[00:06:44] He has brought you this far, and will carry you forward.
[00:06:49] If this message has encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a reminder of God's faithfulness.
[00:06:55] And as you go through your week, remember,
[00:06:58] you are here for a reason, and God is not finished with you yet.
[00:07:04] I thank you for spending time with me on today,
[00:07:07] and I look forward to our conversation on tomorrow.
[00:07:10] Until then, God bless.
[00:07:12] The Bible Speaks is sponsored by C Squared Realty and New Gen Construction Group
[00:07:25] to help spread the gospel to the corners of the earth.
[00:07:29] If anything you've heard poured into your life, please share it with someone.
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[00:07:50] You may contact Elgin at P.O. Box 5582, Ocala, Florida 34478,
[00:08:00] or by email at TheBibleSpeaksOnline at gmail.com.