You are His

by Joyce Sykes
Published May 15, 2007

Have you ever wondered why you are here? Why were you born? In the grand scheme of life, where do you fit? All of us have from time to time struggled with those questions. Without a doubt, many of us wonder why the Lord would ever want us as one of His children. We can understand it for Sally or Sue and even for Thomas but why me?

We know our hearts, our hidden thoughts and fears. We know the real us, even though at times we like to hide it even from our self. The truth is He already knows us from top to bottom, backward and forward, and inside out. He knows our weaknesses, our strength, the good, the bad and the ugly. He knows it all and yet somehow in His infinite love, He still loves us. He still cares and calls us by name.

I remember the night I struggled with these very issues. We were attending a new church. I had been away from church for several years and knew I was not living my life the way I should. I was a miserable person and making everyone around me miserable. There had to be answers that would show me what to do and where to go, but I didn’t know where.

As I cried and sobbed beside my bed that night, I kept hearing the phrase “Isaiah 43”. At first, I brushed the words aside and wandered at my sanity. However, the phrase kept filtering through my tears. “Isaiah 43” I did not know enough about the Bible to know if there was an Isaiah much less an Isaiah 43. Finally, I picked up my Bible and looked at the index. Amazingly, I found Isaiah. The next question; was there a chapter 43?

My heart began pounding as I flipped through the pages and discovered there was a 43rd chapter. What would it say? Would it bring hope or further condemnation? With absolute fear, I began reading the first verse. Each word I read gave me hope, hope for the night and hope for my tomorrow. I pray it touches your heart the same way.

Isaiah 43:1-3a But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

“But now…” what a marvelous proclamation. The word now in the Strongest Concordance means at this time, henceforth, now, straightway, and this time.
No matter what has happened in our past, it is just that - our past. The Lord is speaking to us now. “thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel” We were created by Him and for Him. We are not an accident not matter what anyone else thinks.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” What an awesome word of hope and encouragement. I have called you by your name, you are Mine. This great and might Creator of the universe called you and me by name. No matter how small and insignificant we might feel, nothing changes the truth that we were wanted and called by name by the Lord and we are His children. We are precious to Him. Just as mothers loves and cherish their children, He loves us.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” There is no question that we will encounter hardships, but as long as we keep our gaze on Him, they cannot destroy us. He is always there with us, upholding us, strengthening us and encouraging us.

For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior. He is the Lord our God. There should be no other gods before Him. He is the one who created us, and formed us. He called us by name. We were bought with the precious blood of Jesus. Our salvation was purchased on the cross and no one and nothing can keep us from the Lord our God. We are His. What a joyful thought! We are His!!!!

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