If you grew up in church, you probably know the Old Testament story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three young Hebrew men were deported from Judea to Babylon after an invasion by King Nebuchadnezzar, and pressed into his service. Part of the Babylonian strategy of conquest was to take the young nobles, the best and the brightest, from a nation that had just been conquered and simply absorb them into Babylonian culture through education and training. They were actually given positions of significance in Babylon in an attempt to make them willing “citizens” rather than insurgents.

In Daniel 3, we are told that Nebuchadnezzar made a huge image of gold and required every person in Babylon to worship the statue at certain times. Of course, Jews who believed in only one God could not do so with good conscience and so the three young men refused to worship. They were reported and brought before the king who threatened to burn them alive in a furnace if they would not worship. Their response was, “O 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 save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” 

You know the rest of the story. Nebuchadnezzar was infuriated that these young Jews would dare to defy him. In a rage, he had the furnace stroked seven times hotter than normal and they were, indeed, cast into the furnace. However, Nebuchadnezzar saw them strolling around in the fire, unconcerned and unharmed, with a fourth party that was described as looking like “a son of the gods.” The astonished king called them out of the furnace. They had not been touched by the fire and even the smell of burning wood was not on their clothing. The king recognized that an angel had protected them from him, and was so amazed that he gave each of them promotions in his government and prohibited anyone in his kingdom from saying anything against their God.

There are dramatic moments like this throughout scripture in which men and women stood in faith against overwhelming odds. The obvious lesson is that, in many cases, the expression of faith will put us in a position that, if God doesn’t show up, we are toast. Think about it. Most of us pray for lives that are so ordered that we are never at risk, but where there is no risk, there is little opportunity to grow in our faith. If we do walk in faith, we will have moments when we will have to choose to trust God for good outcomes.

There are amazing moments like the one above recorded throughout scripture where faith clearly placed men and women in life-threatening situations. If God didn’t come through, they would be lost, destroyed, or cast out. What if it hadn’t rained after Noah spent years building an ark? What if God didn’t show up for Moses after he returned to Egypt where he had been a wanted man for forty years? What if fire had not come down on Mt. Carmel in response to Elijah’s prayer as he stated against the prophets of Baal?

Again, what we learn from a quick overview of scripture is that an act of faith nearly always makes us vulnerable to harm or loss. We also need to recognize that It’s not always in big dramatic moments like the ones just listed. The “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5-7 is full of directives that have the potential to place us in harm’s way on a daily basis. If we love our enemy and turn the other cheek, will our enemy not see that as weakness and take advantage of us or bully us all the more? If we forgive those who have betrayed us, won’t we simply be reinforcing their bad behavior because they experience no real consequence from us? If we lend to others without demanding that they return what they borrowed, won’t we end up with an empty bank account or a vacant garage? If we speak well of others while they are speaking evil of us at the office, will we not be damaged? Won’t they ruin our reputation and undermine our position, even though we are innocent? What if we step out of a love relationship that is causing us to compromise our faith? Will there be another one who loves us or will we inevitably face a life alone?

Even the basic teachings of Jesus, put us at risk if we truly follow what he says. The only way to follow these commands is to believe that God will bless us, uphold us, and provide for us when we are attacked or taken advantage of because of our obedience. That simple expectation takes faith. Maybe we are not facing a fiery furnace, but we can face hurt, humiliation, and loss on many levels. To follow Jesus, often means that we can’t act in ways to protect ourselves but will have to make ourselves vulnerable while trusting God to protect us, reimburse us, vindicate us, and so forth…and on his timeline. Even tithing when inflation is rampant and we worry about our budgets takes faith. To give to the Lord can make us feel financially at risk. What will we choose?

Sometimes we are disobedient out of our flesh’s propensity for rebellion and stubbornness. But more often, I think we are disobedient out of fear that God will not be there for us if we put ourselves in a risky position through our obedience. Sure, we would like to think we would have the courage and faith of Elijah or Moses or David running toward Goliath, if the moment arose. But it is in the smaller moments of loving an enemy or forgiving your betrayer or refusing to speak badly of the one who is slandering you at work, that we develop the faith to tackle our giants.

The lesson is that every time we feel afraid, vulnerable, or exposed, we probably have a chance to step out in faith to see what God will do in response to our submission. It is in those moments that we learn that God is our rock, our deliverer, our provision, and our vindication. I believe the time may be coming soon when we will need more faith than we ever imagined, as the world becomes more and more hostile toward followers of Jesus. We will feel more and more pressure to compromise or to deny the truth of scripture in order to maintain our friendships, jobs, or even family connections. Perhaps, I need to begin to choose vulnerability over self-protection now, in order to prepare for a moment when I cannot protect myself by any means, but will totally have to trust the Lord if I am not going to deny the faith.

The good news is that the same God who parted the Red Sea for Moses, who gave Elijah victory over 800 prophets of Baal, who guided the stone from David’s sling, and who delivered Daniel from the lion’s den is the same God who watches over you. Let’s begin to choose vulnerability and risk in expressing our faith in the little things now, so that when we face our giants in the days ahead, we can remember, like David, all the times that God delivered us from lesser risks and believe that he will be is there for us, when much more is on the line.

Imagine Israel on the day Moses climbed Mt. Nebo and disappeared from their sight. He died there alone with the Lord and the Lord buried him in an unknown place. From the moment God had called them out of Egypt, Moses had been their leader. For forty years they had known no other “father” to whom God would speak face-to-face and direct this fledgling nation. Of course, there had been tense moments when a few others thought they might be more qualified to lead Israel than Moses, but God usually sorted that out quickly. For forty years they had wandered through dessert wastelands until every adult of the unbelieving generation that had refused to enter the promised land had died except for Joshua and Caleb who were the two spies that had believed God (see Numbers 13).

Suddenly, the familiar face, the familiar robes, and voice of Moses were taken from them. The nation still stood on the east side of the Jordan and most of them must have wondered what they would do now? In Joshua 1, we are told that God appointed Joshua, who had been an aide to Moses, to now lead this nation. Not only was he to lead the nation, but he was to lead the nation across the Jordon to take the land God had promised to Abraham and his descendants. The same fierce tribes and “giants” that inhabited the land when Israel had failed their test of faith forty years earlier were still there. How could it be different now?

The same theme that ran through Numbers 13, when God first commanded the Hebrews to take the land, rang out again with Joshua. “As I was with Moses, I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you…Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you where ever you go” (Josh. 1:9). In every circumstance of life, that is our promise and that is our confidence. The writer of Hebrews also said, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me’” (Hey. 13:5-6).

Have you ever noticed how much God wants to be with his people? In the beginning, he walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. He delivered the Hebrews from Egypt so that he could meet them at Sinai and be their God. After Sinai, he had Moses construct the Tent of Meeting where the people of God could encounter his presence. Then his glory filled the temple in the days of Solomon. Finally, Jesus came in the flesh – Emmanuel or “God with us.” Then his Spirit began to take up residence in us and finally, Jesus will return to get us and so we will ever be with him. God has gone to great lengths to be with his people.

The truth is that the Lord loves us and is always aware of us and with us. His promise is that he will always go with us…if we want him to. Jesus said that he would be with use even to the end of the age and Paul declared, “If God is for us, who can stand against us? (Rom.8:31). Our faith to face the world, evil people, disease, war, or famine is the promise that God is with us. Sometimes we sense his presence, see his hand at work, or witness a miracle. But he is also with us and for us when we do not see him or hear him or sense him. That is the essence of faith. If he said he would never leave, then I believe he is with me. If he is with me, then I need not fear any circumstance. The Father promised it, Jesus promised it, and the Holy Spirit demonstrates it by his presence in each of us.

And yet, how quickly do we start to believe that God is not there for us, or that he has abandoned ua, or that he doesn’t care about us when trouble comes? Those are the whispers of Satan. Many believers have been taught directly or indirectly that God has promised us a trouble-free life or at least when trouble comes it will be short-lived and relatively easy. So, when we get a bad report from the doctor, when we lose the job we really needed, and then get turned down interview after interview, we may feel as if God has betrayed us. When our marriage fails or our kid gets hooked on drugs, we may feel as if God has not done his job. When our prayer that we have prayed for ten years still seems to go unanswered, we may feel as if God has broken his word. In this moments, we can feel like orphans who are totally on our own with no one else to look out for us.

But God has never promised us a trouble-free life or a disappointment-free life. What he says is that in this world, we will have trouble. But he also says he will be with us in the trouble and walk us through the trouble. He did not keep Daniel out of the lion’s den, he simply kept the mouths of the lions shut. He did not keep Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego out of the fire, but met them in the fire. Paul describes God as the God of all comfort who comforts us in all of our troubles. We meet God in the midst of trouble more often than in the midst of peace and prosperity. It is In the midst of trouble that we truly discover who God is.

The key is to look for the hand of God in the midst of our loss, our disappointment, or our discouragement, We may see the han in a big way, but more often we see it in many small ways…often through the prayers, concern, and kindness of people that God puts around us in that moment. We see it in his grace that subtly sustains us in long nights in hospital rooms, or on long nights while we wonder where a child has gone. We see it at the cemetery when a prayer for physical healing has gone unanswered but somehow we can manage a smile, despite it all.

There were times in scripture where God showed up in big ways and defeated entire armies in a supernatural moment or divided the Red Sea. But there were other times when he simply provided a little water and bread…just enough to get someone to their next appointment. Sometimes the prayer was answered as soon as it was uttered, but at other times, a promised son was not born for 25 years. In every case, God was aware and had a plan…even when some of God’s people thought he had forgotten them.

The declaration of faith is that God is with us, he will never leave us, and that God is good. And no matter the circumstance, he will always express his goodness towards us. Sometimes, when trying too find that faith, our prayer will be, “Lord I believe, but help my unbelief.” But when we are in the midst of something we don’t understand, we must stand on the things we do know, not the things we don’t know.

Decide before the trouble comes that no matter what, God is with you and will walk you through the valley, even if you can’t see the path. King David walked down many dark valleys in his life and, in reflection, he wrote, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me…surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my like…” (Ps. 23:4,6). May we stand on that truth when there is noting else to stand on.

I’m reading through the book of Acts once again in my devotional reading.  I continue to be struck by the boldness of the early church in proclaiming the gospel to the world.  This is a time in history when God’s people are going to need that kind of boldness again.  We know that is true for believers in the Middle East, China, parts of Africa, and currently in the Ukraine, but it is also needed by believers in the U.S and Canada. 

We are not yet being beheaded in the streets or having our church buildings bulldozed, but just about every Christian value is being assaulted in our nation by special interest groups and even major political parties.  This is a time when the church must not compromise with culture and must speak out consistently for righteousness as defined by God rather than the state.

The Bible declares that “we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Tim. !:7).  There is a spirit of fear operating throughout the world and that spirit has certainly been evident in the U.S. over the past two years. Cable news and other media sources have done their part in creating a sense of dread and hopelessness in our country revolving around Covid, inflation, crime, and now war.  It’s not that these aren’t real issues, but the question is whether we bunker in, isolate ourselves, and stop reclaiming the culture for Christ or face the issues with boldness and confidence.  This is a time to remember that our God is still sovereign and watches over his people while we go about the business of the kingdom.

As I read through Acts, I see three great sources of strength for those believers.  First of all, is the Word and prayer.   In Acts 1 and 2, we see about 120 disciples hiding from authorities in a locked room.  Eleven or so of those leading believers had run away into the night when Jesus was arrested only a few weeks earlier.  There was no evidence of boldness in this group, but they were doing two essential things: they were considering the word of God and praying together for answers to their future.  

Clearly, we need to be spending more time considering the Word of God and praying than watching cable news.  And, we need to be doing that together rather than isolating ourselves from the body of Christ.  There is a spirit of fear operating through the media, most of which, is owned and run by unbelievers and opponents of the cross.  We don’t need to get our “daily bread” from them. I’m not saying we should be willfully ignorant about what is going on in the world because we need to pray about much of that. But, we should limit our exposure to that spirit and our time mediating on scripture and praying should out-weigh our time of exposure to any media outlets that pander fear.

The second source of boldness for the early church was the baptism of the Spirit.  As those 120 met and prayed, the Spirit fell and rested on all those in the room. That “filling” with the Holy Spirit caused an immediate  transformation in those believers. The obvious miracle of speaking in languages unknown to these believers was not the greatest miracle that day.  The new found courage and boldness that led the church into the temple courts to proclaim Jesus was the greatest miracle. We need to pray daily to be filled with the Spirit of God and for his Spirit to impart boldness to us and his church.  That constant prayer is more critical than ever in our day.

Thirdly, the early church had an expectation that differed from most of us in the west.  They anticipated hardship as believers, so that when it came, they did not feel abandoned or betrayed by God.  Most of us in America, feel like it is God’s job to keep our lives trouble free, even though Jesus declared, “In this world, you will have trouble” (Jn.16:33). When we face opposition, criticism or even persecution, we often feel as if God has failed us.  The early church saw trouble as evidence of their faith.  

When threatened by authorities and jailed, the Jerusalem church prayed, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly (Acts 4:29-31). 

In Acts 5, after being flogged by the Sanhedrin, the apostles left “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name (Acts 5:41).  We may need to pray that God will give us a biblical expectation for life as a believer, so that when trouble comes, we are not discouraged and afraid, but emboldened, knowing that God is with us and will give us what we need to endure and overcome.

So…as we face a time when boldness and courage is required, we should consistently meditate on the Word of God and pray with other believers while limiting our exposure to the spirit of fear attached to so many things in our culture.  We should pray fervently to be filled with the Spirit daily and to be filled with boldness.  In addition, we may need to ask the Holy Spirit to adjust our expectation about living as a believer in a fallen and hostile world…for we have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

Lord, give us boldness and courage to face every obstacle in our lives today as children of God, rather than children of this world.