When Nebuchadnezzar sent out his decree that everyone in his kingdom should bow down and worship the golden image that he had erected, there were three men who refused to obey. These were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, Hebrew officials in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar called them before him, and they bluntly told the King that their God would deliver them from the fiery furnace to which they would be consigned, but even if God did not deliver them, they would still serve Him and Him alone.
Nebuchadnezzar had the three men thrust into the fiery furnace, and the heat was so intense that it slew the guards who threw them in. Then, as he looked in upon the three faithful Hebrews, Nebuchadnezzar was astonished to find a fourth man walking in the flames with the other three. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego walked out of the fiery furnace without blemish or scar.
So it is when we hold steadfastly to God, and give all power to Him. He sends his messenger to deliver us from our furnace of fear and frustration. Then do we know that nothing shall by any means harm us.
Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him. (Daniel 3:28).
How many of us would be willing to face a fiery death rather than yield our faith? Yet the Holy Bible tells us we are to do just that. This writer is not sure he could meet that standard. Yet, either the instructions in the God’s revealed word are true, or they are false.
Thankfully, most of us will never face such an extreme test of our faith. But in our every day lives we face other tests of our faith; many of which do include facing terminal illness, the loss of loved ones and other devastating tragedies.
Yet in the face of all these challenges, God promises to deliver us if we trust, believe and obey him. Even when death overcomes us, when loss seems to swallow our prayers or the challenges we face become the reality we fear; somehow God will deliver us.
Faith is the belief in things unseen. Even as hard as it is for this writer to understand how a tragic outcome can be considered deliverance; yet will this faith endure as understanding is awaited.
In faith,
Z gardener
Good Morning Garden 
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