There Is Another In The Fire

     shoutout to Levan Badzgaradze for the image.

I came here to remind you of a truth that feelings keep sweeping it away because of the fire that surrounds you right now. Let me remind you that you are understood, seen and not alone in your suffering. 

I like the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that's found in Daniel 3, it doesn't show a God who was protecting them from afar, it doesn't show a God who was only watching, it shows a God who was in the fire with them! Working inside the furnace showing them favour and releasing His protection. 

We see a God that didn't allow such extremes to happen just to happen, but for a greater purpose, We have a God that is close, present, and knows our suffering. When I say knows, I don't mean only by knowledge, but by experience, by feeling in the flesh how it feels like to go through what we go through, 

Jesus.

The son of God, knows suffering, He knows it well. He knows exactly how you feel from time to time, He's aware that certain trials can be unbearable, in the garden of Gethsemane He asked the Father that if possible to take the burden away from him, but He wanted God's will even if it came with pain, because although painful, unbearable, it's a temporary pain that you will look back one day and say: it was worth it, because God's will for you brings life. 

Behind every suffering there's a great plan at work, and if you trust that He understands your pain, feels your pain, that He's not just watching you from afar but He's with you in the fire, and if you trust His plan, even though not knowing exactly how it will turn out and where its leading you, I'm sure you're going to praise Him on the other side of it. 

Because He loves you. He's in it with you, working for you. There's one thing that's certain about our God: He never lets pain go to waste!

🦋🤍

🤎"Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 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. 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.” Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. 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!” Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God."

Daniel 3:14‭-‬28