Isaiah 43:2 — When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

You’d think by now I’d know better than to remodel anything. Kitchens especially.

But somehow, these projects always sneak their way into my spiritual life, turning simple frustrations into something bigger than they are.

A few months back, I was in full renovation mode. Boxes blocked the hall, dishes camped out in the laundry room, and a thin layer of dust kept appearing on every surface I owned—as if it had signed a lease. I kept telling myself I was handling it. Truthfully, I was just surviving it.

Then one morning, my flooring guy showed up bright and early and immediately dove in. Within minutes, he had spread a fresh coat of wet cement across my entire kitchen. Which would have been fine—except for one small detail. I only have one door that leads to the bathroom, and it’s through the kitchen.

Wonderful.

I mean, that day felt like the plot of a bad sitcom. You can’t make this stuff up.

I tried explaining that I needed to get through, but the man didn’t speak English. I pointed, gestured, and attempted a smile that probably looked more like panic. He responded with wide eyes and frantic hand motions that said a universal: “Absolutely not.”

We went back and forth. We were two people playing charades in different languages. He obviously did not like the idea, but here’s the thing, life doesn’t stop for wet cement, and neither does my bladder. So eventually I took a step.

Right into the cement.

It was the only choice I had, and I crossed the room in that squishy sludge, ruining my sneakers. When I reached the far side, I looked back at the line of footprints trailing behind me. The flooring man shook his head, and I shrugged. There was nothing else to say.

Hours later, I thought back over the day and found myself remembering something I had read long before this remodel ever began. It was Isaiah 43:2 which says, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

It struck me then that God never promised a life free of obstacles, detours, or wet cement. It didn’t say, “When you avoid the waters.” And it didn’t promise another route around them. No, He but promised to walk with usthrough challenges, hand in hand, side by side.

So, friend, if you’re wading through something right now—something that feels inconvenient or heavy or impossible to maneuver—I hope you’ll let that truth stay close to you today. You’re not stepping through it alone, and you’re not going to sink. You’re going to make it to the other side.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

• What “deep waters” or inconvenient challenges are you walking through right now?
• How does it change your perspective to remember that God promises presence, not avoidance?
• Where have you seen God meet you in the middle of frustration rather than removing it?
• Is there an area of your life where you’re longing for a way around instead of trusting God to walk you through?
• What would it look like today to take the next step forward, believing you won’t sink or be consumed?