The Test Reveals
“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!” —Daniel 3:17–18
I had the opportunity to chat with a dear friend, and in the midst of our conversation, I asked her to pray for me. I was believing God for something He had placed in my spirit, yet I felt unsettled. I knew God had spoken, but everything around me seemed out of alignment with what He had said.
When she responded, I knew her words were from God. She asked, “Are you going to believe God and still walk in faith—even if He doesn’t do what you believe He told you?” She went on to speak about the three Hebrew boys and their faith. They weren’t as concerned about the outcome as they were about remaining faithful to God. They believed He would deliver them, but even if He didn’t, their trust in Him remained unshaken.
I thought about what she said for a moment and then answered, “Yes. I have surrendered everything to God—I just want His will in my life.”
Later in the week, God brought our conversation and the passage about the Hebrew boys back to me again. After reading the story once more, I began to reflect on my own faith. I prayed, “Lord, if my faith and the condition of my heart are not like that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, please change me. I want my focus to be on faith in You, no matter the outcome. I choose to surrender to Your will.”
When God places something in our hearts or promises us something that doesn’t come to pass as we expect, our faith can be shaken if our eyes are fixed on the outcome instead of on Him. Sometimes, the “delay” may actually be a test of our faith, meant to reveal where we are in our walk with Him.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declared boldly that God could deliver them, yet they also declared with equal boldness that—even if He did not—they would still worship the one true God.
We can make many bold declarations about our faith, but we only truly discover where we stand when our faith is tested. In the moment I spoke with my friend, I didn’t realize I was being tested. But as I sought God more deeply, He revealed things about my heart and faith. Today, I am even more confident than before: what God has said, He will do. And if He chooses not to, I will still believe in the one true God. Amen!
Key Takeaways
You will be tested.
Jesus has already prepared you for whatever test He allows.
Tests always reveal where you truly are in your walk with Him.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
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