Even If

That’s why we’re always full of courage. Even while we’re at home in the body, we’re homesick to be with God — for we live by faith, not by what we see with our eyes. We live with a joyful confidence, yet at the same time we take delight in the thought of leaving our bodies behind to be at home with the Lord. So whether we live or die we make it our life’s passion to live our lives pleasing to Him. For one day we will all be openly revealed before Christ on His throne so that each of us will be duly recompensed for our actions done in life, whether good or worthless.  2 Corinthians 5:6-10 TPT

One of the enemy’s key strategies is fear. We worry about the repercussions at our workplace if we follow God faithfully. We dread the cost to our relationships if we choose not to lie or participate in gossip. We sense God calling us to minister to a broken world, but we fear for our safety or that of our family. 

When challenges come—and that is “when” and not “if”—where do we go? How do we prevent fear from terrorizing us and rendering us incapable of fulfilling our calling as followers of Christ?  How do we be still and know. 

Dive into your Bible and read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were confronted by the real possibility of death by fire when they were told to bow down and worship an idol. 

Daniel 3:16-18 NET Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, “We do not need to give you a reply concerning this. If our God whom we are serving exists, He is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”

Their response in the book of Daniel provides an extraordinary example of how to respond to persecution and fear: “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire ... but even if He does not ... we are not going to serve your gods” AMEN

When fear comes, be still. acknowledge God as your protector, your shield, your deliverer, and your loving Heavenly Father. God loves us so much He gave His only Son to die for us (John 3:16), conquering evil and the grave, “overcom[ing] the world” and its troubles (John 16:33). He is all powerful. He is able to protect us from the brokenness of this world—but what if the outcome of His deliverance and protection is different than what we desire? 

Even if: Trust Him. When you don’t understand, trust Him anyway. He is God. 

When challenges come, we have a choice. If we choose to see life through the lens of our circumstances, all may look hopeless, but if we look through the lens of God’s sacrificial, overwhelming love for us, trust will flood our souls and displace the lie of fear.