God is a tender God who will help us through the hurts of life, illness, suffering, and the evil of people. I’ve always appreciated the verse in Isaiah, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you.” ~ Isaiah 43:2 (NCV)

The verse doesn’t say we won’t go through deep waters or encounter fiery trials, but it does promise God will be with us as we go through whatever we go through.

Looking back, I can see God’s lifelines. The encouraging letter that came in the mail when I was a lonely little girl. The friends who rallied to help when I was sick. The email waiting in my inbox when I didn’t think anyone cared.

God’s lifelines may not be big and might not even be noticeable at the time. Through hardship and pain, God’s tender touch is always there to help, perhaps through the hug of a friend, the smile of a stranger, or through God’s beautiful creation.

How many times have you talked to someone who said, “I wouldn’t have made it through if it hadn’t been for…” and they list a person, some kind of provision, or something they saw or experienced. Something helped them make it through. That “thing” wasn’t just luck. James 1:17 tells us that every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above. Those good things came from God.

It’s not just luck you’ve made it through your life. If you’re reading this, you’re a survivor. You’re still here, still breathing, and still overcoming. Whether you’ve seen God’s hand or not, He has helped you through whatever you’ve been through, and He will be with you whatever comes next. God’s lifelines are always there.

“We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us…” ~ Hebrews 6:18-20 (MSG)

From The Unnamed Devotional by Lisa Buffaloe, https://amzn.to/3h0U8EP