If we believe that God could come through, and He can, and if we believe that He hears our prayers and knows our hearts, and He does, will we trust Him if His answer doesn’t look like ours and instead of saving the day, His plan is to draw us closer to Him in the midst of it all?
If we trust that God can save us, will we say He is still God and still good even if He does not?
Ever since stumbling upon Daniel 3, I’ve been turning these questions over in my mind. You’ve probably heard the story before – the one about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and a fiery furnace.
The entire nation was told to bow down to an idol that was ninety-feet high, and if anyone refused they would be thrown into the fire. But these guys, they chose to worship the one true God. When given a second chance, they said these words:
“Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” // Daniel 3:16-18, The Message {emphasis mine}
Even if not…
Even if you honor your threat and throw us to the flames.
Even if your guards take us away and set us on fire.
Even if you change your mind and punish us another way.
Even if the Lord chooses not to deliver us.
Even if we’re pitched into the furnace, live to tell the tale, and you throw something else our way.
Even then, we will serve Him. Even then, we will only worship His name. Even then, we will refuse to fall for an idol because we have already fallen for the only One worthy of our devotion.
He could save us, but even if not, we choose Him.
If you’ve heard the story before, then you know that God saved them and through their “even if not’s” the entire country came to worship the Lord. But they didn’t know it would go down like that. These three guys had no clue what God would do, but they trusted His love and His plan for them enough to say they would follow no matter what.
I’ve had my but that doesn’t mean there won’t be other opportunities for me to declare it again. We never know just what hangs in the balance of our “even if not” and so today, let’s not fall for the idols. Let’s choose not to bow down in worship to social media or stats or anything else that too often takes His place.
Even if not, Lord, even if not.
Those three had great faith. I pray that God grant all of us the faith the believe and trust “even if not.” Thanks for such an insightful post. I’m visiting from the #raralinkup!
Yep, I agree with you in that prayer.
Well said! I think He enjoys that through our struggles and pain, we still give Him praise. Thanks for sharing with #SocialButterflySunday! Hope to see you link up again this week :)
Thanks for visiting!
I love this story and needed this reminder today. So many seeming tornados swirling amongst my extended family right now and I’m praying hard for healing and conviction and truth but my heart really needs to say even if not. Thank you for this reminder.
I’m really glad it could be an encouragement to you, Katie. It’s a saying that I find myself saying many times each week.
Amen, Kaitlyn! Even if not, I will praise and worship Him!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Yeah, these three words have been really powerful to me in my infertility journey- trusting that He is good, even if not… that’s a hard thing to do. Still learning!
I’m grateful that you shared here in the comments, Ally. xo
I love this-even if not—oh how I could say this to sooo many things in my life! Even if not…I AM is still I AM…in the end, none of what I do will amount to a hill of beans. Great reminder, Kaitlyn!
Yes! Exactly! (a hill of beans.. that’s great!)
Love it, Kaitlyn. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, too. Will I run to Jesus, after his call and his best for me, even if it means I must leave behind prosperity and safety and approval? Habakkuk 3:17-19 is a scripture I keep going back to:
(even if it’s all falling apart),
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
Keep going! your “3 words” are awesome.
Blessings,
Taylor
Yes… I love those verses!
Beautiful post. Encouraging to have such great examples like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that lived before us, standing firm in the One true God no matter what. Thanks for sharing.
I’m visiting from the ‘Me, Coffee and Jesus’ link-up. : )
Thanks for stopping by, Cathy!