Beauty In The Beast: How To Suffer WellExemplo

 

'But even if He does not...'

The most challenging six words for our faith can be found in Daniel 3:18.

Daniel's three friends,  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were about to be thrown into a blazing furnace for refusing to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. King Nebuchadnezzar gave them one more chance to change their minds and their faith-filled response was:

  “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 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 does not, 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.” - Daniel 3:16-18

These verses perfectly capture what I call top-tier faith. A faith that says, "God, I know You can, but even if You don't, You are still good." A faith that says, "God, I know You are able, but even if you don't, I will still choose You!" This is the type of faith that we should all desire to have. 

It is challenging, but this type of faith gives us an eternal perspective when it comes to suffering and healing.

I say this because we often relegate God to just being a healer of the physical. And while physical miracles are incredibly important and beautiful to witness, they are just that…physical. All those ever healed by Jesus, or by the disciples, died. People who have been miraculously healed since the days of the early church until the present day have also passed on into glory. Physical healing is a temporary thing. But there is a healing that is eternal. That healing is found at the Cross. That healing is found in His blood which was shed for us to be healed from the hurt of humanity in all its spiritual sickness, evil, darkness and depravity. Our deepest need is for spiritual healing, not just physical. 

So, we finish this Beauty In The Beast devotional by finding ourselves at the Cross. Thanking Jesus for His sacrifice which ensured our eternal healing and we pray together:

Lord, teach us to suffer 'well'. May we not lose hope in our suffering, but may we cling onto You even tighter. May we encounter You like never before and know that nothing takes You by surprise. We pray for Your mercy, comfort and love to meet us and overwhelm us in every circumstance.  

Thank You for being with us through the fire and allowing us to come out as gold. Thank You that we can glory in our sufferings because we know that there is a purpose attached to it. 

Thank You for surrounding us with a faith-filled community. Heavenly Father, thank You for Your power to heal, not just physically but spiritually. Thank You for rescuing us from spiritual death and granting us eternal life through Your Son, Jesus. Thank You that the name of Jesus has lost none of its power. The name of Jesus is still transforming lives both physically and spiritually. 

We lift up ourselves and those we know are going through a period of suffering. We bring the known and the unknown before Your throne and ask that Your perfect will be done, knowing that these light and momentary sufferings are nothing compared to the eternal glory You promised us.

Lord, give us that bold, top-tier faith, trusting that You are able and sovereign! We love you Lord, and ask all of these things with a heart of thanksgiving in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Thank you for journeying with me on this testimony devotional and seeing the Beauty In The Beast. With love, Kanayo (@doctorkanayo) 

Download the Beauty In The Beast Testimony Devotional as a PDF via doctorkanayo.com (with bonus days, extended prayer and videos) 

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