I will declare what He hath done for my soul

I have been reading, along with my devotions, a book called "Streams in the Desert" by L.B. Cowman. My mom bought it for me last Christmas but I have not read it until this year. It has a short (less than 2 pages), daily tidbit and I've really enjoyed reading it. I would like to share today's devotion with you. It was really meaningful to me today. And I'm sure I'm not the only person who can use this little reminder.

"When you pass through the waters...they will not sweep over you." Isaiah 43:2
God does not open paths before we come to them, or provide help before help is needed. He does not remove obstacles out of our way before we reach them. Yet when we are at our point of need, God's hand is outstretched.
Many people forget this truth and continually worry about difficulties they envision in the future. They expect God to open and clear many miles of road before them, but He promises to do it step by step, only as their need arises. You must be in the floodwaters before you can claim God's promise. Many people dread death and are distressed that they do not have "dying grace." Of course, they will never have grace for death when they are in good health. Why should they have it while in the midst of life's duties, with death still far away? Living grace is what is needed for life's work and calling, and then dying grace when it's time to die. (J.R.M.)

When You Pass Through the Waters
Deep the waves may be and cold,
But Jehovah is our refuge,
And His promise is our hold;
For the Lord Himself has said it,
He, the faithful God and true:
"When you come to the waters
You will not go down, but THROUGH."

Seas of sorrow, seas of trial,
Bitter anguish, fiercest pain,
Rolling surges of temptation
Sweeping over heart and brain --
They will never overflow us
For we knew His word is true;
All His waves and all His billows
He will lead us safely THROUGH.

Threatening breakers of destruction,
Doubt's insidious undertow,
Will not sink us, will not drag us
Out to ocean depths of woe;
For His promise will sustain us,
Praise the Lord, whose Word is true!
We will not go down, or under,
For He says, "You will pass THROUGH."
~Annie Johnson Flint

Here is another poem that I saw this week that also goes along with the first part of the devotion -- the part about God giving us grace, but only what we need for right now.

I was regretting the past
And fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:
"My name is I AM."
He paused. I waited.
He continued,
"When you live in the past
With its mistakes and regrets,
It is hard. I am not there.
My name is not I WAS.

"When you live in the future,
With its problems and fears,
It is hard. I am not there.
My name is not I WILL BE.

"When you live in this moment,
It is not hard. I am here.
My name is I AM."
~Helen Mallicoat