Sometimes it’s hard to feel like God is near you; especially during difficult moments in life. The harder things get, the farther He seems to be. At these times our physical senses appear to be more in tune with our reality and the idea that we can feel anything other than what we are feeling is hard to conceive. There is an account in the Bible of three men, who were in a dire situation; literally in the fire.
Daniel chapter 3 records the experience of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Synopsis: The Hebrew people were under the governance of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue and made a decree that when the instruments sounded, everyone in the kingdom must bow down and worship his image. Word got back to him that there were three men in particular who did not bow down and worship the image as directed (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego). The king demanded that they worship the image or be thrown in the furnace of fire. The men refused, declaring that God was able to rescue them and even if they were to die in the flames they would not worship the image. The king in his fury made the furnace seven times hotter than usual, bound the men and threw them into the fire. After a while, the king looked into the furnace and saw that there were four men in the flames and the fourth looked “like the Son of God” (Verse 25). The king then called Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego out of the flames and made a new decree that everyone in the kingdom must serve the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
There is so much that we can learn from the experience of these three men. The way God showed up in their time of need and rescued them was so powerful. Let’s consider the view from outside of the flames. From the outside, the king looked in and saw that the men were not alone; their God was with them.
When we as children of God go through hard times our perspective may be different from those around us.
Many times our situation while painful for us is serving as a demonstration to others of what God is able to do. We might only see the flames but from the outside, people are seeing our God in the midst of the fire.
Maybe you’re a mom who is struggling to balance work and the children all by yourself; from your perspective you’re barely making it, but those watching you are wondering where you find the strength. You might be a business owner trying to ensure a profitable year, wondering if you made a mistake starting your business, but those closest to you are inspired by your faith to trust God and just go for it.
Whatever your situation is, God is in it with you and although you don’t feel like He is, remember He promised He would not leave you and He does not lie.
Keep going! You may not know it now, but your life is testifying of the goodness of God.