God is in the Fire with You
- Jul 31, 2017
- 2 min read
All of us have gone through tests and trials. Sometimes, we wish we’re exempted from the struggle. The reality is, we still live in a world marred by disobedience and sin from the time Adam and Eve decided to take that fruit. So, what do we do with the painful seasons, those moments when we go through the fire like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did (Daniel 3:1-30)? Here are some lessons we discovered as we went through the fire ourselves. Please know that we, by no means, minimize the pain of loss, tragedy, or struggle. Our heart is to point us all to Jesus, the Giver of hope and peace, when chaos tries to overwhelm our hearts and minds:
God is with you. Daniel 3:25 shows a fourth man in the fire. Kind of ironic that it was the pagan king, who ordered the three Hebrew boys into the fire, acknowledged someone “like god” in the fire with these guys. Sometimes, it may feel like God is silent. Or that, He has abandoned you. Those feelings spell the opposite. Over and over again, the Bible gives true-to-life stories of men and women who went through suffering, yet God was with them throughout. In fact, one of God’s revealed names in the Bible is “Immanuel,” which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14). Now, that is the reflection of God’s heart for you and me. Listen to what God says in Isaiah 43:2:
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
Your test will be a testimony. Think about the people, who are very effective in encouraging others out of messy situations. Most of the time, it’s because they’ve been in those similar struggles and came out victorious. Joyce Meyer speaks a powerful message of hope to those who are under abuse. Why? Because she experienced God deliver her from the depressive and oppressive effects of an abusive father. Bill Wilson, founder of Metro Ministries, continues to rescue children out of drugs, abuse, and violence and point them to Jesus. Why? Because he knew what it was like to be abandoned on the streets by his mother, but God brought him through the fire.
As you continue to trust God in the trial, your test will be a testimony of His faithfulness and love. And your pain will enable you to have the compassion you need as you respond to those who are or may go through the same fire you did.
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