Grace in the Deep Waters
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
Grief often feels like deep water. At first it laps gently at your feet, and you think you can manage it. But then something triggers a memory — a song, a smell, a date on the calendar — and suddenly the water rises. It can feel overwhelming, even frightening. As I reflected again on Recovering from Losses in Life, I was reminded that loss is not a straight line. It comes in waves. Some days are manageable. Others feel like you are barely keeping your head above water.
Yet notice what God promises in Isaiah. He does not say we will avoid the waters. He does not say we will never feel the fire. He says, “I will be with thee.” The presence of God is the anchor in the storm. The waters may rise, but they will not overflow you. The fire may burn around you, but it will not consume you. Why? Because you do not walk through grief alone.
Sometimes we think strength means not feeling the depth of sorrow. But biblical strength is knowing Who is standing beside you in it. Grace does not always calm the storm immediately — sometimes it steadies the heart within the storm. And over time, what once felt like drowning becomes a testimony: “God brought me through.”
If you are in deep water today, hold onto this truth: you are passing through. This season does not define the rest of your life. The same God who walks with you in grief will lead you into renewed hope.
When the waves of grief rise this week, pause and remind yourself aloud, “I am passing through, and God is with me.” Instead of fighting the emotion, acknowledge it and then consciously place it in God’s hands through prayer. Consider journaling one way you have already seen His faithfulness in this season. Even small evidences of grace are reminders that the waters have not overtaken you.
"And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen." — Psalm 72:19
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This Week's Radio Program
Week Eighteen • May 3, 2026
Trusting God With Tomorrow (Pt. 3)
In this final part of the message, “Trusting God with Tomorrow,” we are brought face to face with a powerful truth from Scripture—while we often plan our days and assume the future, the Bible teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain, and completely in God’s hands. As James reminds us, our life is “even a vapour” that appears for a little time and then vanishes away . The issue is not planning, but planning without God—living as though we are in control of what only God knows.
This message walks through the heart of biblical trust: having a proper perspective of tomorrow, a humble posture before God today, and a surrendered plan that says, “If the Lord will.” Whether facing uncertainty, fear, or the illusion of control, we are called to draw near to God, rest in His care, and trust that His will is good, even when tomorrow is unknown. Because Christ has risen, our future is secure—not in our plans, but in His perfect hands.
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