But, if not...

It’s a familiar story, one that we heard many times in Sunday School. Shadrach, Meschach and Abed-Nego. They, along with their friend, Daniel, proved themselves again and again to be servants and followers of the One True God. 

Their biggest showcase was the threat of a fiery furnace if they didn’t comply and worship Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. It’s a story that inspires and ignites our faith in God. They stood up to the enemy, chose to be faithful to God, and then came out unharmed. 

But this week, I stumbled across a verse within the story that I had never given thought to. It’s the statement they made to the king as they refused to bow down to his idol.

Daniel 3:17-18 “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us from your hand, O King. But, if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

“But, if not…” What a pledge of faith. What a commitment. What chutzpah they had in God. Which has caused such mayhem in my mind and soul this week. 

Similar words are said today, such as, “We’re trusting God, but if he’s not healed, we will still praise Him.” “Whatever God’s will is.” “It’s all in God’s hands.” Do you know what’s going inside of me when I hear those words? JUDGMENT! Because it sounds inauthentic. Over-spiritualized. Faithless. What kind of faith says, “Whatever God’s will is?”

But here I sit, staring at this verse and realizing that I don’t have the faith that these young, wise boys had. Because when I’ve been faced with the choice - I fail. I get disappointed in God, wonder about God’s love, question HIS faithfulness. And then I set MY faithfulness down (for a while). BECAUSE I didn’t get what I wanted. 

I didn’t get to see Eva be completely healed.

I didn’t get my marriage restored.

I didn’t get my broken relationship mended.

I didn’t get my best friend’s cancer wiped out.

I didn’t get…

I didn’t get…

I didn’t get…

I have and continue to struggle with faith. Faith in my God as I live in this broken world. A world where children get shot, floods wipe out homes and ongoing wars and rumors of wars continue.

There have been people in my life who have inspired me. People who faced cancer-causing death with unrelenting faith in God. People who have experienced ongoing loss and yet they show up at church and praise Jehoval Jireh. 

I think of them now and realize that they shouldn’t be an inspiration; it should be seen as a given. Something that all Christ followers do. We pray and ask for what we want, as Jesus directs us to do. But then, because of our unrelenting trust and faith and hope in our God, we end our prayers with, “but, if not…” And then we step into the fire.

I believe with all my heart that if Shadrach, Meschach and Abed-Nego had been burned alive, Daniel, with tears in his eyes, would have still praised God on their behalf. Unapologetically, sincerely and without question. 

Can I do the same? Can I ask God for miracles and then praise him no matter what the outcome. I haven’t been able to do that thus far. But, oh, how I want to. I’m honestly not sure what it’s going to take.  But I’m desperate to get there. To be fully trusting of God. Fully faithful. Fully ready when the next hit comes. To say, without a hint of doubt or uncertainty, “God, would you…” and then follow it up with “but, if not…”