Dear Friend,
As I prayed for you, I sensed that you may be walking through an overwhelming situation today. You thought your life was okay and you were doing everything right until … suddenly. Now, you feel discouraged because your life isn’t the same. You are frightened because you don’t know the duration or the depth of this challenge. You feel hopeless because you don’t know how or if you will even emerge from this situation.
Daniel chapter 3 tells the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They loved God and they were highly respected officials in Babylon. Until … the day came when they were commanded to bow down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar made. They refused and their decision led them to punishment in a fiery furnace.
We read how it was heated seven times hotter than usual … OVERWHELMING.
These men were tied up by the strongest soldiers … DISCOURAGING.
Then, they were thrown into the furnace by these soldiers … FRIGHTENING.
The flames of the fire were so hot that the soldiers were killed … HOPELESS.
But their story did NOT end there.
The Bible says that King Nebuchadnezzar leaped in AMAZEMENT as he saw FOUR men WALKING in the furnace. When he instructed them to come out, we read that “the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” (v.27)
Are you, like me, wondering how this is possible? God reminded me of His promises:
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7)
“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)
Whatever fire you are walking through today, know that you are not alone. Your angel is settled in around you and God is with you. May you emerge from this fire as those three men did without even a smell of it on you.
Please feel free to share with me how our leaders can pray for you. Love you Friend.
~Joyce
