“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…” Daniel 3:17
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew it was in God’s power to deliver them from the fiery furnace with which Nebuchadnezzar had threatened them if they did not worship his gods or bow to the image of gold. They knew he could. They did not know if He would. They admitted as much when they said, “But even if He doesn’t save us, we will not commit acts of idolatry and deny him (my paraphrase).” In the end, God did, but these young men were prepared to stand firm in their faith in God’s care and power regardless of the outcome. They were moments away from death or deliverance. For either result, they were prepared.
In the second verse of the hymn “Trust and Obey,’ we find these words:
Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
These words reenforce the truth of Scripture: God always can. God sometimes may. God sometimes may not. Still, He richly repays and far beyond measure.
Can you make these declarations? “I will obey…I will trust…I will be remain faithful…even if God doesn’t…
- Heal the cancer.”
- Mend the marriage.”
- Bring the prodigal home.”
- Provide the job.”
- Save that soul.”
- Send the money.”
- Preserve the life.”
- Meet the need.”
- Grant the request.”
Resolve to trust God with the details. He knows betters, loves deeper, and sees farther than we. Trust Him.
Even if He doesn’t.
FLM