Do we really trust God to deliver us from trials?
What about ones from an invisible enemy that has taken our families and us hostage, has bound us up, and thrown us into difficult situations? The world seems out of control at times and we continue to have an enemy that wants to take advantage of what is going on around us and make us take our eyes off God. I’m reminded of three men, Shadrach, Mesach, and Abed-Nego, who were once cast into a fiery furnace, by an enemy of God because they wouldn’t bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. (Daniel 3.)
But God:
Answering the King’s question regarding who was their God, the One who would deliver them from his hands before the three were bound and cast into the fire they said:
“O Nebuchadnezzar we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O King. But if not, let it be known to you, O King, that we will not serve your gods (idols), nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up,” (Dan. 3:16-18).
Did God save them from being accused, arrested, bound,
and thrown into the furnace?
NO.
Did God immediately transport them out of the fire
and take them to a safe place?
NO.
Did God strike dead all of their enemies
who were involved in trying to kill them?
NO.
But God astounded and got the attention of the King and his men. “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” (Dan. 3:24). “Look . . . I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Dan. 3:25).
Be encouraged.
We are not walking through fiery tests by ourselves. We may have been bound and cast into it by an enemy who has intentions to harm us but God has not been caught off guard without a plan.
Whatever you are facing today, God is in control and He does all things well.
God did not save us from being thrown into a trial or test.
God has not immediately transported us out of our situation to a safe place.
God has not struck everyone dead who means us harm.
But . . . God is wanting to astound and get the attention of the world. For He is walking with us. As people see us going through our difficult situations or react to things around us they should begin to see that we are not bound up with fear, hate, worry, or stress.
When the King and his men saw the three men emerge unhurt the King said, “There is no other God who can deliver like this.” (Dan. 3:29).
And King Nebuchadnezzar was right . . . there is no other God who can deliver. And He is the same today as He was then–He will deliver in His way, in His time, following His plan. But while He is unfolding His plan, we believers are being watched just as the King and his men watched the three Jews.
What we must do when we are thrown unwillingly into a fiery trial against an invisible enemy is to be faithful. We need to trust God and remember that He is still on the throne, still in charge and He still has a plan that He is unfolding.
My Testimony:
I've had my trials and time of testing, and I'm sure I will have more as time goes on. But I hope that I will always join Shadrach, Mesach, and Abed-Nego and announce, “But, if not, let it be known to you, O King (this invisible enemy), that (I) do not serve your gods (idols), nor will (I) worship the gold image which you have set up.”
“If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves,
and pray and seek My face,and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin
and heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7:14).
Images by: MasterTux from Pixabay
FelixMittermeier from Pixaby
Scripture from the New King James Bible
