Fear has no place when the glory of God is surrounding you.
I believe God is able, more than able. Yet, I’m sometimes scared to pray “even if.” To me, this phrase means “whatever it takes,” and that thought scares me. What about you?
In Daniel 3:16-18, three brave men stood courageously at the edge of a fiery furnace, declaring, “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 doesn’t, 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.”
When the temperature is rising in your own circumstances, are you prepared to pray “even if”? Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, are you so focused on the perfect will of God that you are ready to face whatever comes? Wherever you are on the journey today, here are a few biblical reminders to strengthen your faith when faced with fearful unknowns:
God Is Your Help
Psalm 54:4 (ESV) says, “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” I love the imagery this verse provides, describing the Lord as the sustainer and supporter of our lives. Allow yourself to envision God as your help…
-surrounded by His glory.
-led by His hand.
-strengthened by His might.
-upheld by His word.
Fear has no place when the glory of God is surrounding you. His strength propels you forward as you are led by His righteous right hand. The assurance of His Word guides you in all wisdom and truth. And when you falter, the strong arm of the Lord is there to uphold you. Let these comforting visuals assure you of the Lord’s mighty power at work in your life. You are loved, helped, and supported.
According to Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
When fear of the unknown prevents you from praying “even if,” turn to your Helper. Confess the worries of your heart and say aloud, “I trust You, God. You are the upholder of my life!”
You Have an Advocate
In John 14:15-17, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Sometimes we’re hesitant to say “even if” because we’re struggling with feelings of unworthiness. We feel undeserving of God’s favor, and, therefore, resist going “all in” with our prayers. I’ve dealt with unworthiness my whole life, but in recent years, I’ve recognized that's a lie from the enemy keeping me from moving forward in the freedom I have in Christ.
One of the most amazing blessings of following Jesus is His Spirit who lives within us and advocates for us. The Lord is for us, not against us (Romans 8:31). He supports us through difficulties and invites us to rely on His advocacy. At any time, we can admit fears and failures and receive the cleansing power of His mercy. This allows us to pray “even if” without a hint of shame or regret.
Christ is worthy; therefore, we are worthy. He is with us forever, guiding us in all truth. The big question is will we walk in His truth or continue to believe the enemy’s lies? Today, turn to your Advocate and state your case. Lay it all out before Him and trust Him to be your great Defender.
Lord, thank You for sending Your Spirit of truth to cover a multitude of sins and advocate for me. I trust You with my life “even if.”
The Lord Fulfills
Psalm 145:17-19 says, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.”
One of the greatest challenges in our faith is trusting God with absolutely everything. Can we really trust Him to come through? Does He truly care about our deepest longings, like:
-saving our loved ones?
-returning our prodigal children?
-healing our sicknesses and disease?
-rescuing our marriages and families?
These are human desires that require unwavering faith, but oh, how wavering we can be! Part of praying “even if” requires steadfast trust that God will come through even if it looks different than expected. For example: Salvation of a loved one might not happen in our lifetime. A prodigal child’s return might take decades. Complete healing might occur as we’re ushered into heaven. That marriage might still dissolve but be restored in a new, unexpected way.
The thing to remember is the Lord fulfills our desires according to His will. No matter the outcome, we can pray with certainty, “even if,” and know that He is righteous and just in all His ways. Will we always understand why things are allowed to happen? No. Will we sometimes struggle to accept the final outcome? Yes. But more than anything, we know the Lord is near. He is with us through trial and pain. He longs to give us the desires of our heart and bless us with sweet fulfillment of all that is holy, righteous, and pure. It boils down to trust… moment by moment, day by day.
Lord, please fulfill the longings of my heart, especially the longing of salvation. In Your timing, fulfill all things according to Your good, pleasing, and perfect will. I trust You, God, even if.
More Helpful Scriptures for Your Faith Journey:
-Psalm 51:10-12 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
-Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
-Mark 11:22-24 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
-Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
-2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV) “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Ernest Brillo
