Even If Not

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood before a furious king who threatened them with a furnace. Their answer is remarkable. They said God was able to rescue them, but even if he did not, they would still not bow to the golden statue. That little phrase, even if not, is faith stripped of bargaining. Most of us can trust God when things go well or when we get the answer we asked for. This kind of trust holds when the outcome is uncertain. It does not deny fear; it simply refuses to give final loyalty to anything else. The story goes on to show God's presence with them in the fire, but they did not know that beforehand. Today, think about a situation where you are asking God for a particular outcome. Pray for it honestly, then tell him you will trust him either way.