Even If

If you spent any time in church as a kid, you were guaranteed to hear the stories of David slaying Goliath, Noah, and Daniel in the den of lions.

Another story that fascinates young minds is how three men were thrown into a furnace and still lived.

To summarize the story, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon decrees that everyone must worship the golden idol he has made. If people don’t worship the idol, then they’ll be burned alive in a furnace. Stout believers and servants of God, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, say no. And when they’re brought before the king, they make this bold statement:

Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV)

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in the 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.”

Growing up, this story was used to showcase the great faith these three men had. And it’s true, they had great faith. But something else they had a lot of was confidence.

If faith is a belief in a higher power, confidence is a belief in ourselves. And our three friends needed both to respond to the king of Babylon in such a way. No one less could have retorted back even if.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego indeed had a deep faith rooted in God. They knew what God was able to do; they also knew there was a chance God had something different in mind.

And I can’t help but wonder how many of us indeed have faith in God?

We believe God can heal the person with terminal cancer. We believe God can provide the right job. But do we have the level of confidence to say, “Okay God, even if I don’t get the outcome I want, I’m still all in.”

I remember when my mom was given a terminal diagnosis with her third round of cancer. God had healed her the first two times; a third time wouldn’t be difficult for Him at all. She’d received multiple words of encouragement and prophetic promises that she would live and not die. After all, isn’t it the Bible that tells us that God came for us to have life and life more abundantly?

John 10:10 (NKJV)

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

I remember going through multiple job interviews. Some I knew wouldn’t be the right fit; some I really wanted to work out. I knew I had to do my part, and I knew God was very well able to open doors according to His will.

Sometimes we want something for all the right reasons, and we put all our faith in God to heal and provide. And He can do it; and He does do it, and then sometimes He takes us down a different path.

God closed the mouths of the lions for Daniel, but my mom still died.

God not only protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace, He also joined them, but I didn’t get the job I knew I’d be perfect for.

The Bible is there so we can build our faith in God; it’s there so we can learn to understand God, yet there are many times we are left completely confounded by His plan. Our faith is shattered. Our beliefs are called into question. If we’re honest, we question everything about God.

And so, when I read these sassy yet respectful words from our three gentlemen, yes, I see faith, but I also see confidence and peace within them. I’m sure they sincerely hoped to be delivered from the furnace, but they had resolved that even if the outcome wasn’t their preferred choice, God was still God and He was still good.

God answers prayers according to His will for our lives.

And when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed for one thing, God not only delivered, He did it spectacularly.

Sure, God could have sent down angels and stopped them from getting thrown into the furnace to begin with. But He didn’t do that. God protected them as they walked out their faith. And THEN God shows off by joining them.

I think God loved their response to the king. I think it tickled Him. I think God heard their response, then turned to his angels and said something like, “Watch this!”

We know that faith pleases God, but I think if we can partner our faith in God with confidence and resolve within ourselves that even if it doesn’t go like what we want, if we can posture our hearts to honestly say “not my will, but yours God”; to pray fervently for the kingdom of Heaven to come to earth, then we give God the whole stage to show off in such a way it leaves a legacy of His faithfulness that cannot be denied.

My mom may have died, but since then, I’ve learned that was the best kind of healing for her.

Maybe I didn’t get what I thought was my dream job, but I can’t imagine not being where I am today.

God knows what’s best for you, and no matter what, God is still good.

So have faith for God to show up, but be obedient with confidence knowing that God will show up in such a way that you are protected and that He truly is in control…even if it’s different than you expected.

Hallelujah Anyway - Rend Collective

“Even if my daylight never dawns

Even if my breakthrough never comes

Even if I’ll fight to bring You praise

Even if my dreams fall to the ground

Even if I’m lost, I know I’m found

Even if my heart will somehow say

Hallelujah anyway”

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