How to Flourish While the World Is Burning
The 2 magic words that stop worry in its tracks.
3-4 minute read. Audio also included for those who prefer to listen.
Is It Just Me or Is It Hot in Here?
Politics, port workers, and Putin, oh my!
The world feels like it’s burning - and even drowning here in parts of Florida due to Hurricane Helene (and of course, with nauseating damage up the coast as well). So last night I did what I do when I’m stressed (and I was stressed): I expressed myself. This time it was in a poem.
If you feel like your world is burning, it might help a little. Enjoy.
The Power of “Even If”
A mentor of mine once told me that fear says “what if?” and faith says, “even if.”
Let’s end today’s post with some relevant, faith-building scripture to solidify this idea.
Remember Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? They refused to bow down to the evil king’s statue because they wanted to honor God. The king threatened to chuck them into a deathly hot furnace if they wouldn’t change their minds. Here’s what happened next:
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’” (Daniel 3:16-18 NIV)
Did you catch it?
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not…”
Even if.
Dang, son. That’s some serious courage.
So what happened next? The king became furious and ordered them to be bound and thrown into the furnace. The fire was so hot that the King’s men who got close to it were burned to death. But what happened to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?
“…these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.” (Daniel 3:23 NIV)
Game over, right? Let’s find out.
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’
They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’
He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” (Daniel 3:24-27 NIV)
I love how these three men reacted to the world burning. They didn’t pretend everything was fine. They didn’t pretend everything was wrong. They just said it how it was; the situation was chaos, God was with them, and he would probably save them.
But even if he didn’t…
They refused to worry.
Have a great week.
- Toby DeMoss
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Yesss Toby! Thank you for reminding me that this world is not our home :) Our permanent home is 1000000000000000000000x better than anything we can imagine.