Written by Dr. Kim Johnson

“Sometimes God will take you through the fire (not Satan) but just in case things get out of hand, goodness and mercy is right back there too” (Pastor Keion Henderson).

When I heard those words spoken by Pastor Keion I thought to myself “he ain’t never lied.”

So often, when we find ourselves going through difficult seasons, we immediately think something has gone wrong. We ask God, “Why am I going through this?” But every difficult place is not necessarily a place God is trying to deliver us from. Sometimes it is a place He has chosen to take us through.

God never promised that we would not encounter the fire, but He did promise that we would not have to walk through it alone.

Psalm 23:6 tells us, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” I have read this Scripture many times, but for some reason it makes more since now. If goodness and mercy are following us, then even when we cannot see what God is doing ahead of us, we can trust that His goodness and mercy are still with us.

When I think about everything God has already brought me through, whew!!! (Thank You Jesus🙌🏽. There were situations that could have taken me out, but they did not. There were times when I did not know how I was going to make it, but somehow God made a way. There were moments when I thought I had reached the end of my strength, only to discover that God was still holding me.

Sometimes God does not keep us from the fire. Sometimes He shows us who He is while we are in the middle of it.

So whatever you may be walking through today, keep walking. Goodness is following you. Mercy is following you. God is still leading you, and the fire does not get the final word. God does.

My dear brothers and sisters, when you look back over your own life, can you see the goodness and mercy of God following you?

© 2026 Dr. Kim L. Johnson. All Rights Reserved.
Written with faith, purpose, and a heart to serve.
I Am My Sister (Women Helping Women)