August 29, 2024 - Daniel 3:17-18

“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.” Daniel 3:17-18 NLT

Lord, we praise you that you are our rescuer. You have come through for us and protected us from more things than we will ever know or understand while we are living here on earth. You are such a great God, and we can always trust that you will be there to rescue us. We also understand that your version of rescuing us might not look like what we expected. I love the “even if” that is in the beginning of verse 18. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were about to be thrown into the fire for standing up for your ways, they trusted that you would protect them. I am sure they would have loved for you to do something to change the law and keep them from getting “arrested”. Once they were brought before the king, I am sure they would have loved for you to have given them favor with the king and for him to pardon them. I am sure they would have loved for you to rescue them before they were thrown into the fire. Yet, they declared that they trusted you, even if you didn’t do what they wanted. You didn’t show up until after they were thrown into the fire, but you are never too late. Even if they would have died in that fire, they would have gone to spend eternity with you that day and that would also be a huge win for them. You would have rescued them from the pain and the injustice of this world.

Lord, help us to always have an “even if” attitude with you. Even if you don’t come through for us in the way we wanted, we trust that you are working on our behalf, and you have a wonderful plan in play for our lives.

In Jesus name, amen.