"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!" Daniel 3:16-18 (AMP)
What does it really mean to have faith in God? Are we believing Him for the promises of His true character and the promises we find in His word? Or are we only having faith in a particular outcome that we want to go our way?
These are questions that I had to ask myself when my husband of thirteen years was dying of cancer. We were only thirty-three years old with two small children. I knew God had the almighty power to reach down His hand, touch my husband, and miraculously heal Him. I had faith that was possible. However, I was not sure that was God's will. I was not sure that was the story that He was writing.
I wrestled with God for allowing this to happen. I had prayers filled with tears and anger, but one thing I had faith in was that EVEN IF my husband was not miraculously healed, I knew that God would keep His promises that He would never leave me or forsake me,
"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." (ESV)
And He would work it all for good.
"And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (ESV)
My husband was not healed on this earth. He was healed in heaven. God answered my prayer for healing, but not in the way I hoped for.
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were told they would be thrown into a fiery furnace if they did not worship the idol of the king, they trusted that God would save them but also had immense enough faith to say EVEN IF He didn't save us, even if His will is for us to parish, we will still praise His name.
Now, that is big faith.
What are you hoping for from God today? What do you want to see happen in your life that would require miraculous intervention? Let's pray today in faith that God is, in fact, big enough to make those things happen, but let's take it a step further and tell God that we trust him EVEN IF things turn out differently.
Let's rest assured that if we are left disappointed and hopeless, God will meet us in our pain and comfort us. Rest assured that God can take the most unimaginable tragedy and work it all for good and His glory.
If you are asking God big things today, let us focus on the promises that God provides in His Word for us to lean on.
Promises of Peace:
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust you."
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid."
Promise of God's presence
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
"...And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
"...God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"
Spend some time today reciting these promises and leaning into all God has for you this season. Trust these truths and put your hope in Him, not the outcomes you so desperately want.
Let's pray:
Lord, you know my heart, my desires, and what I am so desperately longing for. Please allow my heart the ability to trust you no matter what the outcome is. Help my unbelief when I doubt that you would be with me if the worst-case scenario comes upon me. I want my trust in you to be so strong that I trust you no matter what. Saturate my heart with your truths today as I lean into you and all you have for me as a child of God. I love you, Jesus, and trust you with all the even ifs.
In your precious name,
Amen
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Ben White
Heidi Vegh is a writer, speaker, and ministry leader based in Western Washington. A remarried mother of four, she is navigating blended family life after losing her first husband to cancer in 2013. Through her writing and speaking, Heidi encourages those who have experienced loss, offering hope and practical guidance for the journey toward healing and renewed life.
She is the author of The Hard Journey to the Good: A Widow’s Journey from Loss to New Life, a heartfelt account of grief, faith, and rebuilding after devastating loss, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
You can find Heidi at her website mrsheidivegh.com where she shares devotionals and reflections on grief, healing, motherhood, faith, and the beauty and complexity of blended family life through her monthly newsletter. She holds a degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University and serves as Ministry Director at her local church, where she is passionate about helping women grow in faith and experience the transforming love of Jesus.
You can find her on Instagram @mrsheidivegh and SubStack: https://substack.com/
Related Resource: Discouragement Often Comes after Calling | Ezra 3
In this episode of The Bible Explained, Jen walks through Ezra chapter 3 and explores the Israelites’ return from exile as they begin rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. She highlights how the people, though fearful and greatly outnumbered, chose unity, obedience, and worship by first rebuilding the altar and restoring sacrifices to God. The episode focuses on the emotional moment when the temple foundation is laid—some rejoice with gratitude while others weep, remembering the former temple’s glory. Through passages in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, Jen emphasizes God’s encouragement not to “despise small beginnings,” reminding listeners that God often works through humble starts, difficult seasons, and imperfect circumstances. The episode closes with a practical encouragement: when God calls people to a purpose, opposition and discouragement will come, but faithful perseverance and trust in God’s presence are what carry the work forward. If this podcast helped you understand the Bible in a clearer way, be sure to follow The Bible Explained on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Monday, 06 November 2023.
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