Don't you just admire the undaunted faith and bravery displayed by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they stand firm and refuse to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar, even as they risk being burned alive in a fiery furnace?
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:17-18
He is able. Yes, it's one thing to worship this God, the One who is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace. But even if He does not... Trusting in that God is different. You've heard of faith healers, well it seems to me being healed doesn't require nearly as much faith as not being healed. That requires real faith. Trusting God even if He does not deliver you from your trial requires submiting to God's will and more. It means believing that God's will is perfect and that God is good, even when it doesn't appear so on the surface. Even when you end up being thrown into the furnace.
I've been thinking about these words as I pray for a dear friend of ours, a 19 year old young man in our church facing the fiery furnace of cancer right now. The doctors no longer hold out hope for a recovery, but we know even now our God is able. We've been appealing to the God who is able, able to heal, able to deliver. And we will continue to plead with God to spare Connor's life. But even if He does not... Will we worship that God? Will we trust in that Savior?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't actually escape the fiery furnace, did they? They were thrown into it, but they weren't in there alone. The Lord preserved them in the midst of the furnace. Connor isn't alone, either. The same God who is able to deliver, able to save, able to heal, that God is with him through his fiery ordeal. That God will not leave him. And that God will ultimately deliver him through a bodily resurrection and eternity in heaven.
Please pray for Connor and for his mom and dad. Connor is such a brave young man and has told my husband he looks forward to heaven, but the rest of us, especially his mom and dad, aren't nearly so brave. Please pray for a miracle, that God will completely heal Connor of cancer for His own glory. But please also pray that God will be glorified, even if He doesn't.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
LinkWithin
- Celee
- I'm an on-the-run mom to 6 kids who studied and taught exercise science in a previous life. I love all things running, nutrition, and health-related. I usually run at zero dark thirty in the morning and am often quite hungry before, during, and after my run, but I live a rich, full, blessed life with my children, family, and friends. My faith in God is my anchor, and looking to Him and His promises allows me to live fully even when life circumstances are difficult. While running gives me an appetite, my desire is to hunger and thirst for righteousness more than for physical food.
I feel for his parents and imagine that must be very difficult. I will pray for Connor and his family.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your perspective in this post. What a grand day it will be when our bodies are raised and glorified and we are all healed, not just of sickness, but of sin. Praying for God to be glorified.