There is another in the {dumpster} fire.

Dear beloved friend,

It’s been a year… and a half… which included a global pandemic. If you’ve compared this chapter of our world’s history or your day or your week or an entire month to a “dumpster fire” even once, I hope you can take great comfort in knowing that we are not alone in our hot garbage.

The Bible tells us a story about three men who were thrown into an actual fiery furnace… and how they survived.

They refused to bow down to a false idol.

About 600 years before Jesus was born, a King named Nebuchadnezzer and his troops overcame Jerusalem and took many captive, including men like Daniel (from the book of Daniel) and three fellow men, friends of faith—Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Nebuchadnezzer held them captive, changed their names to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and tried to strip them of who they were by demanding they worship him on command.

Have you ever been challenged to deny your faith?

To go along with something or someone that doesn’t align with how you want to live your life?

How did you respond to the situation?

Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to a false idol (a gold statue made in Nebuchadnezzer’s image) knowing the king wasn’t someone to worship. And they continued to worship their own God even if it meant the king wasn’t bluffing and the fire overtook them too. Unfortunately, Nebuchadnezzer wanted to do more than demean them or take their lives; He wanted to dethrone their god.

“Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” {Daniel‬ ‭3:15‬}

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” {Daniel‬ ‭3:16-18}

I see four men walking around in the fire.

In his fury, the king heated ordered the furnace to be heated up seven times hotter, but the three men weren’t killed in an instant like the men who threw them in. Stunned, the king looked inside and saw a fourth in the fire with them.

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzer then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” Daniel 3:25-26

And they walked out without a single singed hair or a whiff of smoke on them.

They stood firm in their faith.

And another stood in the fire with them.

Many witnessed the miraculous power of God.

Only God can truly rescue us.

We are all worshipping something with our lives. But if you are a Christian, no one and no thing should stand in God’s rightful place in your life as the most important. Anything we put in His place–pursuit of the perfect body, a growing bank account, an extravagant wardrobe, bucket lists, promotions, flattery, or fame–will disappoint us. Because nothing but God can save us. Only God can truly rescue us.

I want a faith like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When threatened or faced with a fire, I want to stand firm in my faith in God and not discredit who He really is with my doubts. Do you want this kind of faith too?

Who in your life could witness the true character of God if you stood firm in your faith and trusted in Him?

Who could you show love by truly believing in, and living within, God’s love?

There is another in the {dumpster} fire.

A few months ago, I headed into church by myself after an emotionally painful morning– a dumpster fire kind of day. Among the many ways God lifted me up in a personal intimate showing of His love for me, this song from Hillsong United was part of the worship set:

There’s a grace when the heart is under fire
Another way when the walls are closing in
And when I look at the space between
Where I used to be and this reckoning
I know I will never be alone

There was another in the fire
Standing next to me
There was another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
Of how I’ve been set free
There is a cross that bears the burden
Where another died for me
There is another in the fire

God is always with us, even in our pain and in the fiery furnaces of our lives. And even though we have to wait until heaven for all pain to stop and tears to dry up, we have his presence here now.

There is another in the {dumpster} fire. Right now. Right beside you.

My friend, I am praying you turn to God and ask Him to help you with your heaps of hot garbage and heal your scorched heart.

Love,

Amanda

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