"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." (NCV)
What is God saying?
God will be with us and protect His followers when we face the difficult obstacles of life.
What is God saying to us today?
Some of us might find it easier if the verse stopped after the first sentence. We can wrap our minds around God being with us through the trials of life. But, the fact that God continues on and makes the promises to protect us from drowning and being burned can cause a problem. Does that mean that God's followers can go SCUBA diving without an air tank? Should we become firefighters, since we won't be burned? Obviously that is not the case. So, what is God promising here? The key is the context in which God makes these promises - He is promising us safety when we follow His call. Following God in a sinful world is not easy; sometimes He calls us to do dangerous things. But, we can follow Him regardless of what we might face, because He promises to protect us along the way.
What is God inviting us to do?
Do you feel God calling you to do something scary for Him - quit your job, foster a child, offer to study the Bible with your neighbor? God invites us to claim His promise of protection as we follow His call.