What do we do when life isn’t good? When life seems hopeless and every prayer you pray seems unheard and unanswered?

The book of Daniel shows us a bold example - a life and death example - of what faith in trying circumstances should look like….

I encourage you all of you to go read Daniel 3 for yourself, but a short summary is: King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon builds a massive golden statue and commands everyone to worship it or face execution in a blazing furnace. Three Hebrew men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—refuse to bow, declaring their ultimate loyalty to God, and are promptly thrown into the raging fire. 

When the King demanded for the men to bow before his statue, the men’s response to the king was, “ 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. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” - Daniel 3:17-18. In Shadrack, Meshack, and Abendego’s case, God did answer their prayers. He did rescue them and he showed his power over the entire kingdom of Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzer.  

But sometimes God’s answer is still no. Sometimes God does not intervene. Take for example Christ’s prayer in the garden of Gethsemene - “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42). God did not spare Jesus. He did not intervene and spare Jesus the pain and suffering that was coming his way because he knew our salvation was dependent on Christ conquering death! Yet Jesus shared the same sentiment as Shadrack, Meshak and Abendego - Not my will, but yours be done. 

God’s plan is good and perfect. But as believers that does not mean that life will always be comfortable and easy. Instead we can be assured that God is working for the good of his kingdom, and while your suffering is difficult, it is not without purpose. 

  And if not, God is still good. 

  Even if he does not intervene, He is still better than idols.

  Even if he does not fix my circumstances, He is still worthy of praise. 

It’s a bold statement of faith. It’s proclaiming that God’s will is greater than your will. It’s proclaiming that God is still sovereign and loving even if you are suffering. Can you cling to those promises of our Loving Father even in your hardships? 

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 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. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” - Daniel 3:16-18

Photo Credit: Aaron Burden via unsplash.com