"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:2
I’ve always been a pretty optimistic person. It’s one of my core personality traits, probably inherited from my father, hard-wired into me since childhood.
Of course, I believe this to be a most admirable trait… but I suppose it could sometimes strike the realists in the crowd as annoyingly Pollyanna. Just ask my husband, who handles most of our bills, household repairs and long-range planning.
“Eh,” I tend to say, regardless of the present reality. “I’m sure it will all work out fine.”
Anything but fine
Except I’ve become increasingly aware that it doesn’t always turn out fine.
All in all, my life continues to be pretty grand, with blessings beyond what I can count. Yet, at any given moment my mind will wander to friends and loved ones – good, faithful, beautiful people—who are facing incredibly difficult situations.
Cancer. Death of loved ones. Miscarriages. Broken marriages. Searching. Loneliness. Hurt.
I sometimes sing on our church’s praise team, which I absolutely love doing. But without fail, at some point in the middle of the service, I get all choked up. I’m overcome as I look out into the faces of people who are dealing with circumstances beyond my comprehension. They are anything but fine.
And yet, there they are – Sunday after Sunday – praising Jesus with broken hearts and tear-stained faces.
What in the world keeps them coming back?!!
I suppose the world would have any number of explanations. Delusion? Denial? Desperation? Stupidity?
Maybe.
But in my experiences with heart-broken Christians, I’ve encountered something entirely different…. an unshakeable hope and peace that only comes from walking hand-in-hand with God through the fire.
True Identity
Recently, I was reading a familiar story from the Book of Daniel, the basics of which many of us learned as children in Sunday school.
The story centers around three young Hebrew men who faced an extraordinary decision. Their names were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – or at least that’s how most of us remember them.
But these were actually the names that King Nebuchadnezzar gave them after taking them into captivity. Trying to make them forget their Jewish roots and indoctrinate them into a new way of life, he gave them pagan monikers that paid homage to foreign gods.
However… the three men didn’t care what anyone called them. They would always remember who they really were.
Shadrach was still Hananiah, which means “the LORD shows grace.”
Meshach was will Mishael, which means “who is like God?”.
Abednego was still Azariah, which means “the LORD helps.”
Nebuchadnezzar could take the young men out of Israel, but couldn’t take the Israel out of the men.
Broken kingdom
Holding tight to their God-given identities, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, along with their friend Daniel, continued to thrive in captivity.
“To these four young men, God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.” (Daniel 1:17)
Their careers flourished, and they rose quickly through ranks of Nebuchadnezzar’s leadership team. For a while, it seemed as if their faith and hard work had spared them from significant devastation.
But happiness and stability are fleeting when you live in a broken kingdom.
“Happiness and stability are fleeting when you live in a broken kingdom.”
King Nebuchadnezzar built a towering statue of gold, silver and bronze. Then he declared that everyone would bow down and worship it at the sound of his alarm. The penalty for insubordination would be certain death.
Of course Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah would not succumb to idolatry. Even as Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw them in the furnace, they refused to bow down. They knew who really held their fate in His hands; they answered to the Most High King.
The Fourth Man
Over the years, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah had heard countless stories of God’s sovereignty and power. They knew their family history – how God had intervened time and time again to miraculously save His people.
But their dedication to God did not depend on how He chose to answer their prayers.
“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, emphasis added)
Regardless of their destination, the Hebrews knew they could not be thrown beyond the reach of God.
“They knew they could not be thrown beyond the reach of God.”
Furious, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he commanded his soldiers to bind the three young men and throw them into the fire. The heat from the flames was so extreme that even the soldiers perished while carrying out the king’s orders.
What happened next is nothing short of miraculous.
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’
“They replied, ‘Certainly Your Majesty.’
“He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed and the fourth man looks like a son of the gods.’” (Daniel 3:24-25)
By Nebuchadnezzar’s orders, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were set free, completely unharmed: not “a hair of their head singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” (Daniel 3:27)
Though he continued to call them by their altered names, King Nebuchadnezzar publicly praised the God who defined their identities.
The LORD had shown grace.
The LORD had helped.
There was clearly no other god like Him.
In the fire
I’m amazed by Christian brothers and sisters who continue to praise God in the midst of trials that come while living in a broken world.
I imagine there are days when it’s difficult to get out from under the covers, to put one foot in front of another.
But they are ministering to me – and countless others – even as they walk through the fire.
They are my heroes, modern day saints, who, like Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, are relentless in their faith, regardless of their circumstances. They know God is powerful enough to save them from heartache. But they are determined to serve and trust Him – even if He does not.
Peering into their fires, I am bolstered in my own faith.
I see God at work in them and through them; He is ever faithful, always present. He is loving and guiding them every step of the way.
Want further encouragement in your walk today? Check out “You Can’t Steal My Joy,” an authentic and powerful blog written by my amazing friend, Bekah. She continues to inspire hundreds of people, even as she and her family are walking in the fire.