Why Does God Let Us Go Through Hard Things? | Isaiah 43:2 with Steph Blair

Isaiah 43:2 — “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.”

In today’s episode, Ash and Steph explore one of the most comforting — and confronting — promises in the Bible: hardship is guaranteed, but so is God’s presence.

Steph goes full Bible-nerd (in the best way) as she unpacks how this verse echoes three massive moments in Scripture — the Red Sea, the Jordan River, and the fiery furnace — all reminders that God has always been with His people: at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of every trial.

Ash and Steph also dive into a powerful idea: what if God uses hardship to grow spiritual maturity in us?
Not to harm us, but to shape us into people who trust Him deeper, stand firmer, and walk closer.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why Isaiah 43:2 is rooted in real Israelite history

• The difference between if hardship comes and when it comes

• How God prepares us through difficulty, not despite it

• The call to spiritual maturity in Romans 8:19

• Why God’s love is the anchor when the water rises

• Taking your thoughts captive when you feel like God is far

• The truth that God’s presence is the promise — not an easy life

This episode is tender, challenging, and deeply encouraging — a reminder that whatever you’re walking through, God is not distant, disinterested, or disappointed. He is near, He is present, and He is forming something beautiful in you.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.