Happy
Monday!
Here
we are in the last week of October. Another month has come and gone. They seem
to be going by faster now that I am older. Time is just slipping on by. A lot
has happened this month. Some things have been really good; some things have
been just okay, and some, well not so good. I was caught unaware, but God
surely wasn’t. I find comfort in that. The troubles we face in life have
purpose. Knowing that should give us joy. That means they’re not random. That
means there’s something greater that will come from them. (That gives me
goosebumps!)
James 1:2-3> “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles
come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when
your faith is tested, your *endurance has a chance to grow.” (NLT) (*Note:
patience, perseverance, steadfastness)
Endurance.
Patience. Perseverance. Steadfastness. Something we as Christians need,
however, we’re just not very keen on how we get it. At least I’m not. It’s hard
to comprehend how an opportunity for joy can come from trouble. Yet it does. For
years, I pretended to have joy during hard times simply because God’s Word said
to. Therefore, I manufactured my own joy. I said I had it when I really didn’t.
The outside looked joyful. I even spoke joyful words. However, on the inside,
where it really mattered, my joy was fake. I thought if I pretended hard enough
that real joy would come. It did not. Why in the world would I consider that an
opportunity for joy would come from troubles? Furthermore, how was I supposed
to do that? It didn’t make any sense to me at all. I had missed what the reason
was.
Troubles
and trials will come. That’s a given. The interesting thing about them is that
God uses them to help us grow. That’s the opposite reason of why Satan uses
them. He uses them to capture us, enslave us and to destroy us. Not God! Nope,
He does what seems crazy to the world. He uses troubles and trials as a means
to set us free. They grow us to be more like Him. If I don’t learn how to
endure, to be patient, to persevere, or to be steadfast then I won’t make it
during those challenging times. Clinging to the knowledge of knowing that Jesus
is with me, walking with me, and standing beside me in whatever “furnace” I may
face should give me joy. You know what? It does. It even makes me smile. That
was not the result Satan was hoping to get. Way to go God!
In
those difficult times, stop and praise God for loving you enough to help you
grow. “Dear brothers and sisters, when
troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (Why
should I do that?) “For you know that
when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
In
awe of Him,
Vonda
Daniel 3:18> “But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as
king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you
set up.”
(CSB)
Most
of us are familiar with the story of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and the fiery
furnace. It mesmerized us. It seemed unbelievable, yet it happened. Felt boards
have been used in Sunday school classes to retell the story. Sermons have been preached regarding these
three men. Their story has certainly been popular. It’s one of those “only God”
moments that appear all throughout Scripture. When you see them, you definitely
need to focus on them.
As
a child, I read it without a whole lot of thought regarding their situation. The
fire is what caught my attention. I have to be honest with you; I’ve read it as
an adult that way, too! I focused on the furnace and Jesus being in there with
them. Don’t get me wrong; nothing was wrong with that whatsoever. I mean my
goodness, even in our ‘furnace’ moments Jesus is still with us. That is
wonderful! Who doesn’t need to hear that and know it? Nevertheless, knowing
what got the three amigos there is important to remember, too.
King
Nebuchadnezzar had a gold statue made that was ninety feet tall and nine feet
wide. You couldn’t have missed it! His intent was for it to be worshiped by
everyone. At the dedication of this statue, a herald loudly proclaimed that the
sound of music would be their que to bow down and worship this statue. If they
did not, they would “immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire”
(verse 7). Not after a court hearing, not after giving it a little thought, and
not after preparation, but immediately! Furthermore, not just any kind of fire
would do. It had to be a blazing fire! A rip-roaring fire! That bad-boy had to
be H-O-T! If anything would deter someone from disobeying such a command surely
that would do it. Only a crazy person would disobey. Right?
Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego were the disobedient ones. It was not because they were
crazy, either. These three amigos were committed to God. There was no other god
and these three knew it. They’d heard the command; they knew the consequence of
disobedience. There had not been a reason to doubt the king. They knew he was
serious. However, it was a risk they were willing to take. To bow down and
worship something, or someone, other than God was unimaginable. They were
willing to face the furnace of blazing fire.
How
many of us today are willing to do what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did?
How many of us today are willing to stand for our convictions? It is true that
some have. They would not go against God. Their very lives were taken because
of such a conviction. Not just in death either, but also in life. With
reputations ruined and businesses closed, they, too, knew the consequence of
standing firm. Nevertheless, just like the three amigos, they still would not
deter from their conviction. There was/is only ONE GOD and that was that! To
say or act otherwise was unimaginable.
Things
at work are a little challenging right now. I guess the question to myself is am I
going to join in on the bandwagon of uncertainty and fear, or am I going to stand firm
knowing that God is God and He has got it? Am I going to stand firm in knowing
that God is God and this situation is not? Am I going to say one thing, yet act
another? Truth be known, I played a big part in the uncertainty wagon. I
probably led the revolt of fear. If I didn’t lead it, I was still part of it. I
should have stood firm and said no. I should have been an example of not bowing
down and worshiping uncertainty. However, today is a new day! I can stand firm
and say no to the king of uncertainty, and say yes to the King of Kings!
Are
you facing a furnace? What are you, am I, going to do? Fall prey or stand firm?
In
awe of Him,
~Vonda
Psalm
141:3>
“Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (NIV)
There has also been a time when I could not
retaliate. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to. I wanted to! However, there was
a deep stirring inside me. The Holy Spirit was at work. I wanted to open my
mouth and dish it back but it wouldn’t come. Instead, reminders of Jesus
mocked, beaten, and spat upon came. He had done nothing wrong. He had said
nothing wrong. He could have whipped every one of them with His tongue without
ever laying a hand on them. Instead, He was silent. Oh, the strength it took to
be silent. I desire that strength. Am I the only one? Thank You, Holy Spirit, for continuing to work in me...
In
awe of Him,
Vonda
