Looking Back

I like to reread what I've written here on occasion. It show's me how the Lord has been working even when I couldn't see it at the time.

On April 26th I quoted Isaiah 43:1-5:

But now, this is what the Lord says--he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 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. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you..."

At the time of writing the earlier post, I really needed to hear that the Lord was with me and would bring me through life's struggles. It resonated with me that He would bring me through the waters and the fire, that I was still precious to Him, and that He was LORD and Savior.

In rereading it, the part that stuck out this time was the end of this segment: " Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life."
The Lord removed somebody from my life and it hurt. But as time goes on, I see more and more into who God is calling me to be and I see more and more how that person would not have helped me become that person. The Lord was faithful to "give men in exchange for [me], and people in exchange for [my] life." I should not waste the blessings that the Lord gives, including the ones that He takes away.