Cover artwork for Through The Water Through The Flame
Hope in Hard Times

Through The Water Through The Flame

Listen first. Then read the words, explore the Scripture pathway, and follow the song beyond itself to Jesus.

Listen
Understand

Lyrics

**Verse 1** In this world are many obstacles, some are mountains, others are dark valleys that never see the light of day. Some are as wide as the ocean, and others are swift waters that try to block our way. At every place, at every hindrance, we grow weary trying to be an overcomer, or find the best way around… And then the words of Jesus fall on my ear, and I know to gain His promises, our feet won’t always be on solid ground! **Chorus** For He said, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you’re in the river, I’ll keep your head above the water as we walk through.” And He said, “When you walk through the fire, you won’t be burned, or find any scorch on your frame.” But He never said, “Go around or you’re on your own. Is it cold in the water, or hot in the flame?” He always says, “I’ll be right beside you, when you call out my name.” **Verse 2** Daniel and the lions talked with Him when He joined them in the Den. Three friends felt right at home when in the flames He joined them within. Others sailed flood waters, or crossed dry land under the sea. A few saw Peter walk on stormy waters, and many saw thousands fed. Blinded eyes were made to see, evil spirits made to flee. The lame picked up their beds, and from a tomb out walked a man after 4 days he’d been dead! But what will never be seen, because God is always on His throne, You will never see the righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread, And you’ll never see those that trust in Jesus, ever walk alone! **Chorus** For He said, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you’re in the river, I’ll keep your head above the water as we walk through.” And He said, “When you walk through the fire, you won’t be burned, or find any scorch on your frame.” But He never said, “Go around or you’re on your own. Is it cold in the water, or hot in the flame?” He always says, “I’ll be right beside you, when you call out my name.” *Final Chorus** So I can sing—that Jesus loves me. And I can sing—Because He Lives, in Jesus I have Victory! And this I know—that He will be with me forever and wherever I go… Because my Bible—and my Jesus—they tell me so!
Ministry Devotional

Through The Water Through The Flame

Read together: Isaiah 43:1–3; Daniel 6:16–23; Hebrews 11:29–40; Psalm 37:23–26

Life is full of obstacles. Some are mountains. Some are dark valleys. Some are oceans too wide to cross, and others are swift rivers blocking the way. We grow weary trying to find a way around them. This song makes a striking observation: To gain His promises, our feet won't always be on solid ground.

That is honest. God does not always take us around hard things. Sometimes He takes us through them.

Read Isaiah 43:1–3. "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned." Notice the word when, not if. Waters and fire will come. What God promises is His presence in them. The chorus captures it perfectly: He never said, "Go around or you're on your own." He always says, "I'll be right beside you when you call out My name."

The second verse recounts the stories that prove it. Daniel in the lions' den. Read Daniel 6:16–23. Daniel was thrown in because he kept praying to God. In the morning, the king rushed to the den and called out. Daniel answered, "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths." The three friends in the fiery furnace, where a fourth figure walked with them. Israel crossing the sea on dry ground. Peter walking on stormy water. The blind seeing, the lame walking, Lazarus coming out of the tomb.

Read Hebrews 11:29–40. The writer lists people who by faith passed through the Red Sea, conquered kingdoms, shut the mouths of lions, and quenched the power of fire. But he keeps going. "Others were tortured… faced jeers and flogging… were stoned, sawed in two, put to death by the sword." They too were commended for their faith. That balance matters. God does not always deliver His people from suffering in this life. But He is always with them in it, and none who trust Him walk alone.

The song quotes Psalm 37:25: "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread." That psalm is the testimony of an old man reflecting on God's faithfulness over a lifetime. It is not a guarantee that believers will never face hunger or hardship—Hebrews 11 shows otherwise. But it is a confident witness that God does not abandon His people. The song says it beautifully: You'll never see those who trust in Jesus ever walk alone.

The final chorus closes with lines from songs many of us learned as children: Jesus loves me… Because He lives… my Bible and my Jesus—they tell me so! Sometimes the simplest truths are the ones that carry us through the deepest waters.

If you are in the water or the flame right now, call out His name. He is beside you. And if you have never trusted Him, He says to you what He said to Israel: "I have called you by your name; you are Mine."

A moment to respond: Read Isaiah 43:1–3 aloud, inserting your own name: "Fear not, ___, for I have redeemed you." Name the "water" or "fire" you are walking through right now. Then sing or say the oldest truth you know: "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Let's pray: Lord, You never promised to take us around every obstacle, but You did promise to walk with us through the waters and the flames. Thank You for Daniel, the three friends, and every saint who found You beside them. When we pass through deep waters, keep our heads above them. When we walk through fire, be with us. We will never walk alone. Amen.

Our desire at UnrelentingJesus is that whatever waters or flames you face, you would hear Jesus say, "I am right beside you"—and walk through with Him.