We're going on a bear hunt

Michael Rosen's book, 'We're going on a Bear Hunt' has captured the imagination of countless children all over the world.  I have used it on countless occasions in my teaching - both as a primary school teacher and in Rwanda during my trainings.  But it recently resonated far deeper with me as I was reading Isaiah 43. 

Rosen's book is about a family going on a 'bear hunt' and facing many obstacles along the way.  With each obstacle, the family exclaim, 

"We can't go over it.  We can't go under it.  Oh no!  We've got to go through it!"

Isaiah 43:2 reads:

"When you pass through the water, 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."

Can you see where I'm about to go with this?  

It's been nearly 3 months since I returned to London from Rwanda.  People still ask me how I'm settling back - and I'm still finding it hard but I'm making my way THROUGH it.

Life in general, whether you are a christian or not will be filled with obstacles.  If we want to move forward, as in the bear hunt story, we have to understand that 'we can't go over it.  We can't go under it.  Oh no!  We've got to go through it!'  I'm still going through the 'oh no'-feeling of having to pass THROUGH this season/period/chapter of adjustment and settling.  In truth, I'm not entirely sure what my 'bear' is (i.e. the goal that I'm passing through all these hurdles to reach), but I'm persevering, building resilience along the way and rested in the knowledge that God is with me, just as Isaiah 43 states.