Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, O king.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. — Daniel 3:24-27
A fact of life is that things will not always go the way you want them to. How you handle that fact will say a lot about your relationship with God.
The most common reaction to difficult times is to want it to be over. If you’re a Christian you will probably pray that God would deliver you from the difficult time. Sometimes in God’s grace He does deliver you but what happens when He doesn’t.
I love Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s response to the king when they were ordered to bow down to the idol. It’s found in Daniel 3:16-18. Basically they said, “We’re not going to because our God will save us. But even if He doesn’t, we still won’t bow before your idol.” Now that’s confidence!
Sometimes God will save you from the flames but other times He will stand by your side while you’re in the flames together. If you are walking in the flames right now, just know that you are not alone! The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8).
Originally posted January 10, 2010.