Other verses that promise God will be with us and in us as we go through our trials include:
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
Psalms 73:23-24 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Hebrews 13:5-6 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
Our faith is matured when our trust in God increases as we see what He has done, and will do, for all His children as we go through our own fiery crucibles. I could feel God’s presence when I had MRIs that lasted as long as 3hrs, and when I was reading the Bible during my many infusions lasting up to 5hrs, and when experiencing the brutal side-effects from the clinical trial drug, and during the radiation treatments on my lungs requiring many demanding, very precise breath holds, and much pain, nausea, fatigue and bad news results during the 13 years (and counting) of my journey. I now feel a much closer bond to Christ as I put my complete trust in His presence as I go through the trials I face. A mature faith really does make it possible to do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
