Fear Not!

Isaiah 43:1-5
1 BUT NOW [in spite of past judgments for Israel's sins], thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt [to the Babylonians] for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba [a province of Ethiopia] in exchange [for your release].
4 Because you are precious in My sight and honored, and because I love you, I will give men in return for you and peoples in exchange for your life.
5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east [where they are dispersed] and gather you from the west.
He has called me by name. I am His. He will take care of me no matter what I am going through. Thank goodness I am only going through it, I don't have to stay in the hardships of life. I believe I only stay in it as long as I want to. I don't think God wants us to dwell in the trials and hard places in our life. He wants to deliver us out of it quickly. It is ourselves that stay in it longer. He said "this to will pass". I am learning to lean on Him more and expecting to be delivered out of the trials in a timely manner. I believe each trial I go through, God can show me something to help me grow, as well as use it to help someone else if I let Him.
I am so glad I serve a risen Lord. He is alive and cares about everything that pertains to me.
God Bless you!