Even if

A hard but nonetheless wonderful truth to receive.

We all go through disappointments in life, don’t we?

Sometimes, our hopes and dreams are not the same as God’s.

Maybe we pray for reconciliation but the relationship stays broken?

Maybe we pray for peace but we struggle with worry and restlessness?

Maybe we pray for healing but the diagnosis is grim?

What then? What do we say? What do we believe?

Believe this: Even if He doesn’t mend those relationships, calm those raging seas or heal that cancer, HE IS STILL GOOD.

And even if _____________, He is still good.

(We all have something we can fill in the blank)

In the book of Daniel, three young men (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) were faced with being thrown into a blazing furnace for refusing to bow down to the king and worship his idols.

I’ve learned that not all idols look like images of gold. Sometimes we can make security and comfort an idol.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this 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.” –Daniel 3:16-18

The men believed that even if God did not rescue them from that fiery furnace, He is still good.

His plans are greater. His love endures. His Sovereignty reigns. And He is the only One, worthy to be worshipped.

Our struggles may seem unbearable. The task too big. You may be exhausted. But believing that He is still good through it all is what separates us as His.

It’s easy to worship God when everything is going our way. We often spend our lives wanting God to match up His desires with ours, when it should be the other way around.

 

 

 

Of course, in the situation of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, God delivered them from the fiery furnace. They were victorious.

God does come through. However, it may not always be in the way we thought it would be. 

God is good in our struggles. God is good in our pain. God is good all the time.

He is our Deliverer and our Victory.

Do you believe?