Made of Mettle: Living Courageously in Turbulent TimesSample

Courage to PAY THE PRICE

When we read the book of Daniel, we can clearly see that choosing to live courageously is not easy, especially when times are turbulent.

Chapter 3 of this book narrates to us an incident that happened with Daniel’s friends: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar made an imposing image of himself and commanded everyone to fall down and worship the image. When the 3 Jewish men refused to do so, they found themselves in the middle of one of the most inhuman and severe punishments: thrown alive in a blazing furnace.

This historical narrative about these young Jewish royals highlights a vital lesson i.e. we must be ready to pay the price if we choose to live with convictions and want to make a stand. If courageous living was simple then all of us would live courageously. On the contrary living a life of courage, especially in turbulent times, demands a preparedness to pay the price.

One must, however, remember that willing to pay the price is neither an emotional game nor an impulsive decision. We are not called into a space where we have to live with regrets. On the contrary, courage to make the sacrifice and move out of your comfort zone requires maturity, resilience and perseverance. It is a conscious and intentional decision to honour God in difficult times. That is why these friends stand out.

The way they demonstrated courage in the face of such atrocity is noteworthy. Verses 16-18 record for us their response to the king’s edict. Two crucial lessons stand out in their response:

i. Their UNSHAKABLE FAITH – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were confident that if they were thrown into the blazing furnace, the God they serve was able to deliver them both from the furnace and the king’s hand. This is important for us to remember. The only way that we can have the courage to pay the price is when we have the unshakable faith that our God is able to deliver us from turbulent situations. There is nothing too difficult for him. He created the world with his words and he is able to deliver us.

ii. Their UNCOMPROMISING DETERMINATION – The three friends challenged the king that even if they were not saved, they would still not compromise their faith. This level of determination prepares us to pay the price. God’s way of working will not always align with our ways and yet we are called to be determined to honour Him. Such uncompromising determination in the face of a crisis begets an unthinkable courage.

It may, however, be possible for us to lose the intensity of this experience since we already know how this ends. The three friends were thrown into the furnace but the king saw a fourth person, one who looked divine. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were unharmed. They were ordered out of the furnace and given prominent positions while Nebuchadnezzar announced that their God should be revered. Their distress and anguish may go missing in this account of victory and deliverance. But may we remember that when the friends demonstrated their faith and exhibited their determination all they knew was that their willingness to sacrifice would help them tide through the crisis.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego teach us that when we have the courage pay the price then it is possible for us to thrive even if we are surrounded by turbulent waters.