Daniel 3:24-25 NLT:
But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.
“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”
Imagine being one of these young men. “This is it. I hope I die quickly.” Soldiers pushed them closer and closer to the edge of the
hyper-heated furnace. As they are shoved in anticipating horror, nothing. They see the flames and hear the roar, but they feel fine. “Ha! I must be dead already. This isn’t so bad!”
And then to their amazement, they see each other, but also Jesus! “Jesus is in the fire with us.” He must have said, “My Father and all of heaven have been watching you guys. We are all so proud of each of you for standing for God. So, I’ve come to stand with you!” And so they talked with Jesus.
I have been through the fire on several occasions in my life. My older sister died at 33, leaving two children under the age of five. Our family was devastated. My faith was tested by fire. Another furnace had to do with a 2 ½ year period of feeling trapped in jobs that provided just enough to survive but no real hope for the future. The “enduring-faith” furnace. Then, the furnace of betrayal came as a trusted friend carried a spirit set on my destruction and the sabotage of this church. And there’s more. I’m confident you have had similar or far worse furnace seasons.
However, in every severe furnace I have faced, Jesus came and revealed Himself to me. The clearest manifestations of Jesus’ presence have come in the midst of the most combustible circumstances that could have easily ended my life, or at least the life God purposed for me. Sincerely, the most I’ve ever experienced or learned of Jesus has come from the hardest times.
There is a fourth man in the fire. Whatever you are facing right now, you are not alone. Here is God’s promise to you from Isaiah 43:2-3 NLT: When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When 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. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Prayer:
Thank You, Lord Jesus! I know You are with me. I can’t see You, but I know You are here, and I worship You! I know You will never leave or forsake me. Thank You for being in the fire with me and delivering me, in Jesus’ name!