The Fourth One in the Fire

I love before and after pictures. No matter what it is, I love seeing a side-by-side transformation. Weight loss? YES. New bathroom tile? OH, YEAH. Garden growth? I LOVE IT.

There’s something just so satisfying about seeing the immediate results.

Unfortunately, life is not like this.

The thing about before and after pictures, is you don’t see what happened in the middle. You didn’t experience the waiting season or the hard work that went into the transformation.

It can be really easy to see how far someone else has gone and wonder why I haven’t made it there yet.

Do you ever feel this way? In a past blog, I talked about what it’s like to live in a highlight culture. This is just one example of how we live our lives in constant comparison.

But today I want to challenge you to question why it can be so frustratingly hard to be proud of another person’s accomplishments/growth/transformation.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, where you live, or how much money you have. People are always going to try to one-up each other.

I’m terrible at this. Even if I never say anything, I’m constantly trying to justify where I’m at in my own journey. And for what? Temporary satisfaction that quickly fades the next time I’m intimated by someone else’s blessings.

Lately, as I reflect on my own life, I’ve noticed a small, ever-present question in my heart.

“God, where are you?”

Even when life is great, I can see someone getting the insane and ridiculous job of their dreams, and I’ll wonder, “God, why haven’t you done that in my life?”

Or when I see someone else losing weight and getting in shape much faster than me, I plead, “God, why can’t you help me do the same?”

To be completely real with you all, I see the sweetest families, with the happiest babies and think, “God, why can’t you make that path an option for me right now?”

There are countless times in life that I question where God is. I know He is faithful and good, but why doesn’t He show up when it’s convenient to me?

I’m sure you’re thinking the same thing I am as my fingers stumble across the keys with this confession.

Just because God isn’t on my time, doesn’t mean He’s not walking right beside me.

Let’s take a second to talk about my good friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Side note: would these not make great names for new Crayola colors?)

I’ve recently been reading about these three brave men. I’m sure you know the story. In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to worship the false gods King Nebuchadnezzar presents to his people. As punishment, the three men are bound and thrown into the fire.

Pretty dramatic, if you ask me.

Anyway, as I was rereading the story, waiting to get to my favorite part, I noticed something I never had before.

Daniel 3:17-18 says, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Basically what these men are saying is, “We know he can, but even if he doesn’t, we will still worship Him alone.”

You. Guys.

As per usual, I feel oh so convicted when writing these blogs, but oh my goodness! What if I chose to live my life like this? What if we all decided to praise Him when we didn’t feel like it because we knew He was still good?

No matter what, we will face trials and tribulations. Life is not easy, friends. But we have the power to choose whether we will praise Him in the fire or fall at the mercy of the world.

After the men are thrown into the fire, Daniel 3:25 says, “‘Look!’ Nebuchadnezzar shouted. ‘I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!’”

So, God did show up for these men, which obviously a powerful picture of His mercy and love.

But don’t lose sight of the faith that made this “transformation picture” so powerful.

Before now, I always thought it was just so neat that there was a fourth man in the fire. Now I see so much more.

God will show up. Maybe not on my timing, but on His. And even when He doesn’t, I will still praise Him for the miracles that are to come.

When it seems like God isn't moving in your life, please know He is walking right beside you, in the fire.