What if God doesn’t answer your prayer? What if He doesn’t heal you or provide you with that job you’ve always wanted? What if He doesn’t deliver you the way you want? What if He doesn’t prevent that storm from coming again? What if He chooses the fairy furnace for you? What if He decides not to satisfy you the way you want? Will you still be satisfied with Him?

Each time I study the story of Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego, I always have goose bumps. Their total faith in God is the kind I want to have. They were among those who were brought to the land of Babylon as captives. Life in Babylon was not what they were used to. They could no longer worship as before. Sin was prevalent in their new land. But still their satisfaction in God made them understand that there was more to life than pleasure.

I can relate slightly to their story. Having come from a country where i could openly talk about Jesus Christ, to a country where almost everything about my faith is classed as offensive, it can be very challenging to stay bold for Christ. At least we still go to church. I understand that there are places where people have to hide to worship. The story of Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego goes to show that it is possible not to compromise.

One of the reasons why we compromise is because we don’t believe that Christ is enough for us. We are truly not satisfied with Him. We want Him and the world. Don’t get me wrong. It’s good to have material things and wealth. We live in the world and we need money to survive in this world. We need money to pay our bills and be comfortable in life. I desire to leave something behind on earth for my kids to enjoy. I want to use The Pearls of Purity’s platform to impact the lives of more girls not just spiritually alone. I want to help and provide for the less privileged. This is my heart desire. However as i desire this, i need to always remember that if He doesn’t grant my heart desire in this manner, He is still enough for me. Our satisfaction have to be in Him not in what He gives.

Babylon which was the new country for these 3 boys had a new rule which made it a must for everyone to bow down to an idol made by the king. We see the story in Daniel 3. These boys refused to bow down because they knew that they weren’t Babylonians. We live in Babylon but we aren’t Babylonians. We are in the world, but we are not of the world. As a result of their action, they were threatened to be thrown into the blazing furnace. This was their response to the king.

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. ¹⁸ But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

Verse 18 is what inspired this post. It’s one thing to be committed because we know God will deliver us. It’s another thing to be committed when He decides otherwise. Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted God to deliver them, but they were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences. If God always rescued those who were true to Him, Christians would not need faith. Their religion would be an insurance policy, and there would be lines of selfish people ready to sign up. We should be faithful to serve God whether He intervenes on our behalf or not. Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure first.

Quick heart checks to start this week with.

Am we serving God so He can bless us or are we serving Him because we want to be with Him?

Is He truly enough for us?