But If Not

"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

There are often times of uncertainty that we all go through in life.  Wondering what our next step will be.  In the midst of all this we are expected to have faith that in all things God is going to work it out. After all, that is what His Word says.  Even now when my life is in a state of flux and wondering what my next move will be, while trying to hold on the midst of it all, I question if my faith is strong enough.   Faced with opposition on every side. Individuals who mock the very faith upon which I stand and yet I still have hope.  As I think about this I am reminded about the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace.  After reading this story again I find myself asking if I would have had the same kind of faith.  It's easy to proclaim to be a child of God when everything is going good around you, while you are surrounded by other believers.  But what about in the workplace when you don't know who's a Christian and who's not.  Will you still continue to stand up for God?  What about while hanging with your friends when conversations turn to gossip and backbiting?  Will you continue to stand up for God or  just blend in smiling and laughing along in an attempt to fit in?  I would like to say that I would do the right thing and 'stand up for God'. But the truth of the matter is I don't know what I would do.  I need my job.  What if my standing up for what is right causes me to get fired?  To I have the faith to say that God will continue to 'supply all my needs according to His riches in glory'.   What about when dealing with friendships?  These ladies (gentlemen) have been my friends for years.  I don't really want to stir up any confusion.  And what about when you have been praying about something and you are waiting on God to answer that prayer.  Is your faith predicated on if God answers the prayer in the way that you see fit? Or are you able to proclaim boldly that you trust God as the three Hebrew boys did when faced with the danger of being thrown in a fiery furnace?

It makes me think of my current situation and how I am in the process of going through some major changes in my life. Here I am waiting on God to answer my prayer, beginning to see a little light at the end of the tunnel.  Watching God work on my behalf and starting to feel hopeful.  But in the midst of all this I had to ask myself, "What if the situation doesn't work out the way I would like? Will I be okay with accepting the results as God's will for my life?  Will I be able to say 'But even if He does not'?  You see, that's the kind of faith I want to have.  Life has shown me that things are not always going to work out as I would like it to.  That job I may really want may be given to someone else.  Someone who I may have thought to be a lifelong friend may turn out to be seasonal.  While I may be praying for healing, God may decide to deliver the ultimate healing and take my loved one on up to glory.  All these situations could easily shake my faith but God has just been to good to me for me not to accept that He knows what is best for my life.  And if He has determined to take me through the fire then bring it on.   If I have to be tried by the fire so that my life can be used as a testimony to help someone else then I am going to walk through the fire.  And while I may have to go through the fire I have decided to stand up for God.  My questions for you today is, " What will your decision be?  Daily we are faced with opportunities to be a witness for God.  At home, on our job, in the grocery store, at the mall.  Will you be that witness? 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I come to You today in the humblest way that I know how.  Giving you all the praise You so richly deserve.  Father I ask today that You forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  I know that in times past when faced with a situation of whether or not to stand up for You or blend in with the crowd, I have not always made the best decisions.  Today I make a bold declaration of faith.  You., alone. are the one, true God and in everything I am going to praise Your name.  In Jesus' Precious Name I pray Amen.