As Christians, we are never promised to live a trouble free life, but the one thing we see throughout scripture is that we are never alone in our troubles, God is always there with us (Hebrews 13:5).
One of the great examples of faith under extreme testing is found in Daniel 3 ~ with the three boys Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah ~ you may better know them as Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (Daniel 1:7). These three Hebrew boys stood firm in there faith and would not compromise even with the threat of burning in a fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:17-18 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Notice those three words in verse eighteen - "But if not" ~ they stood firm in their faith even if God did not deliver them from the fiery furnace. We see that God did save them, but He didn't just save them but went through the fiery trial with them. Notice verses 24-25 we see that eyewitnesses not only saw the three Hebrew boys in the furnace but they saw a fourth person walking with them. What a testimony of God walking through the trial with us!
When we stand firm and trust God no matter what the outcome, we see how it touches the lives of those around us and brings honor and glory to God. Notice Daniel 3:28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.' Wow - from throwing the boys into the fiery furnace to saying Blessed be their God!
My friend, if you are facing a fiery trial today, take courage and know that God is with you! Find your strength through Christ (Phil 4:13). Walk by faith not by sight.
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