Rivers are so beautiful, whether flowing slowly and peacefully or tumbling over rocks. Sitting nearby, listening to the water moving in musical repetition is calming and soothing.
There are times, though, when those rivers become raging and the sound of the water moving is more like thunder and chaos. The power of the water either lifts what is in the way to carry it downstream or utterly destroys it.
Fire is a lovely thing, we like to gather around it, use it to cook food, to warm us, to be the center of a conversation space.
There are times, though, when fire becomes a ravaging, raging, all-consuming monster that respects no one and nothing. It kills and destroys all that gets in its way.
The prophet Isaiah said WHEN. There’s no “If you go through…” This lets us know that we WILL go through things that scare us and have the potential to destroy us.
We also see that God gives us three promises about these scary moments that will come:
- He will be with us.
- We will not drown or be overwhelmed.
- We will not be consumed or burned.
Was this what the three Jewish men believed when told to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue? Did they trust that regardless what Neb threw their way, God would be with them, protecting them?
I think so. I also think it’s something we can believe deeply in order to walk confidently in God’s will.
Every human will face trials and frightening challenges. Not all of them will do so with God. Today is no different than the days of Isaiah, Daniel, or Jesus. We have to make a choice: believe what God says and live boldly in our choice to follow Him or refuse to believe what God says and live in fear of every twist of circumstances that comes our way.
We can choose to follow God, no matter what comes or we can choose to follow man and his faulty efforts to fix things or maintain a status quo.
We can settle this decision in our minds once, thinking it’s forever, but temptations come and circumstances change, but will we stand on that decision or fall to fear?
This may sound harsh, but it’s time to choose: Follow God or follow self. Choosing God brings the Creator into every aspect of your life, calm waters or deep, raging floods or peaceful streams, campfires or raging flames.
What’s your choice today?
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
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