Courage Under Fire

Reflect on God’s Word

Have you ever faced a life-or-death situation because of your faith? Or done something that caused you to be unfaithful to God?

Jewish exiles Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to choose between obeying God or obeying a direct order from the Babylonian king ruling over them. The king had issued a decree that everyone must bow down to a golden idol, proclaiming that anyone who did not do so would be thrown into a fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:16–18 describes how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego responded to the king’s decree: “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.”

Imagine being one of these three Jewish men.

Perhaps, as you make your courageous statement to the king, you hope God will save you by softening the king’s heart. But as you finish speaking, you see the look on the king’s face. He is furious! Suddenly, you find yourself sweating.

The king then flies into a rage, commanding his men to make the fire seven times hotter than usual. He also demands they tie you up. Your skin begins to sting and burn, and the rough ropes chafe against your skin.

And then you find yourself surrounded by fire, a fire so hot that it incinerates the soldier who throws you into it. Your ropes burn off, but much to your surprise, nothing else burns! In fact, you discover you can walk freely through the flames. As you struggle to make sense of it, you realize you’re not alone in the fire. Another person stands near you: the Lord. He is with you in the fire. Deep peace fills your heart.

The stunned king calls you to come out of the fire, and you walk out, unharmed, not even smelling of smoke. The king begins praising God, proclaiming that no one can ever speak ill of the true God.

You realize that your courageous faith has brought glory to God in a way you never could have imagined.

Today, let God’s love for you and his mighty strength be the solid ground you stand on—your sure and certain truth, the embrace that holds you when you’re afraid. Remember that God doesn’t promise you will escape persecution for your faith, but he does promise to be with you in the flames.

Release Your Fear

Perhaps your heart is already beating faster at the prospect of following God into something that might put your security or safety at risk. Take a deep breath. God is with you. Let his strength fill you. Feel it lifting your head as your shoulders sink down. Feel yourself growing taller, more relaxed, and more centered as you continue inhaling deeply and exhaling deeply, remembering that God is your strength.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood God’s power and believed that he was mighty enough to save them from the king’s wrath and from the blazing furnace. Do you believe that God has the power to deliver you from whatever fiery trials you face?

These men had faith in God’s power, and yet they did not presume to know God’s will. They accepted that God’s plan might be different from their desires.

Take another deep breath and consider the risk those three men took in order to stay faithful to God. Then, as you exhale, consider your own situation and the risk you may need to take in order to stay faithful to God.

Breathe in again deeply and exhale, handing your situation to God and reaffirming your trust in him, whatever the outcome.

Heavenly Father, please fill me with the kind of courageous faith that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had. Help me to trust you despite my circumstances. Thank you for promising to be with me in every trial. All the power and the glory in heaven and on earth are yours, God—may my life testify to that truth even in fiery trials. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

JOURNAL PROMPT: How has God called you in the past to stand courageously in your faith for him? What happened to you and to those around you?