The Heat is On
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.” –Daniel 3:17
Are you feeling a little burned out?
Do you feel like life has gotten you down?
Facing struggles or some uphill challenges?
Maybe you feel like you are in the fire and the heat of your problems are getting the best of you. Life is not easy.
Maybe it’s a situation at work.
Maybe it’s a family issue.
Maybe it’s a health crisis.
Maybe it’s all of the above.
If that’s you, I really want to encourage you today and share with you an inspiring story that might help give you the strength to get through a fiery trial.
I love the courageous story of Daniel and his friends. Daniel and three of his friends: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were exiled to Babylon as young men and they faced many challenges that tested their faith. They were trained to serve in the courts of King Nebuchadnezzar. At one point, King Nebuchadnezzar had built a large golden idol and commanded his people to fall down and worship it at the sound of musical instruments. He threatened to throw anyone who did not obey this law into a fiery furnace. That meant they were sure to die. The King was told Daniel’s friends did not worship the idol. They made a choice. They decided they were not going to do this and they were only going to be faithful and worship God.
As you can imagine, when the King found out about this, he was extremely angry. He ordered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to be thrown in the fiery furnace, and for the heat to be turned up extra hot.
But that’s not all.
It says in Daniel 3:20, “And he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.” The furnace was so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who put the three into the flames. Ouch!
Because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were faithful, because they honored God and God alone, guess what….God protected them. When the King looked into the furnace, he didn’t see just three men, he saw four.
Who was the fourth person? An angel. An angel who was there to protect the three. The King then ordered the three out, and amazingly not a hair had been singed, their robes were not even scorched. They didn’t even smell like fire. That’s God!
Sometimes the heat is on with life’s challenging problems and it may feel like you are in that fiery furnace, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were in. But let’s remember what they did – they trusted God, even in the toughest of circumstances.
Know this: no matter what fire you are in today, you are never alone. God will see you through. You will come out stronger, better and wiser.
Do you believe that?
Here’s a practical analogy.
Have you ever done pottery? Growing up my mom, dad and I all took pottery classes and learned to make pieces from scratch. After you mold the clay together and make your bowl or cup or other object, you need to glaze it. The glaze is really important as it provides the color and shine. But here’s the thing, it’s not until the pottery is fired to an extreme, intense heat that the glaze begins to show its true colors. This process makes the finished piece beautiful, durable and unbreakable. Think of yourself as that beautiful piece of pottery. God is molding you just like clay and creating you to be the best version of you. Through struggles, through trials He is teaching you something. Through the fire our true colors come out. And it’s through the fire we will SHINE.
Shine brightly. Don’t ever give up!
You are strong, durable and unbreakable.
Prayer:
Father, thank You that You are the same yesterday, today and forever. You are the God of all comfort. You are our very present help in trouble – therefore, we will not fear. Lord, be near to us today. Have mercy on us. Give us a deep sense of Your presence and Your peace to walk through anything that may be difficult. You are our ultimate source of strength. Thank You for leading, guiding and protecting us today. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
Praying for you today – that God would , encourage and bless your day!
You are loved.
Christine Batchelder