One of my favourite Bible stories is that of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace (Daniel 3). It’s not just the drama of the story or the significance of music in worship or the image of Christ as the fourth person in the furnace which capture my imagination, though all of these things are there. What I like most about the story is the statement they make to the king:
“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.” (Daniel 3:17-18)
That bold statement of faith inspires me every time I read it. That’s the kind of faith I want. I want to be able to say ‘even if…’ and mean it. I want to be able to bless God’s name not only ‘when the world’s all as it should be’ but ‘on the road marked with suffering’, as Matt Redman so eloquently puts it in the song ‘Blessed Be Your Name’. I want to be able to say, with Habakkuk,
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.” (Hab 3:17-18)
I want the kind of faith that is not swayed by disappointment or adversity or pain or hurt. I want to be able to hold on to God even when I can’t see Him or feel His presence or understand what He’s doing. I want that ‘even if’ kind of faith that will not be shaken.
Other people say this far more eloquently than I ever could. Kutless, in their song ‘I’m Still Yours’ ask the questions I regularly ask:
“When my life is not what I expected
The plans I made have failed
When there’s nothing left to steal me away
Will You be enough for me?
Will my broken heart still sing?”
Casting Crowns, in their song ‘Praise You In the Storm’ say “You are who You are
no matter where I am”. It’s that kind of tenacious faith I want, a faith that rests secure in who God is. Circumstances can be favourable or unfavourable, but God remains true.
What inspires me about all these Bible stories and songs is the knowledge that we have a choice in these matters. We choose to believe. We choose to sing. We choose to obey. We may well not feel like doing any of those things, but the kind of faith that holds on to God no matter what makes choices based on a knowledge of God, rather than on personal feelings.
“When the tears fall
Still I will sing to You
I will praise You
Jesus, I will praise You
Through the suffering
Still I will sing to You
When the laughter fails to comfort
When my heart aches, Lord, You’ll be there
When confusion is all around me
And the darkness is my closest friend
Still I’ll praise You
Jesus, praise You.”
(Tim Hughes, ‘When the Tears Fall’)
That’s the kind of faith I want to have…