Daniel 3:16-18
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Is God’s goodness dependent on your circumstances? Is God only good if things are good? The guys in this passage told the King of the world that it didn’t matter if God saved them or not. God is still able to save, still worth our worship, and still undeniably good.
That is how it’s possible to have joy in suffering. I don’t say happiness, or pleasure, but joy is possible in suffering. Even if I burn up, God could have saved me. If He didn’t, that’s His decision and I trust that He is good. Do you trust Him? If not, go to the cross where Jesus entered the furnace for you. Love like that, and mercy like that, only come from a very good God.
Prayer prompt: Lord, I know You are good and You are bigger than my ideas of what is best for me.