Through the Fire

The Road Uphill

"Walking in the midst of the fire" (Daniel 3:25).

It is an important revelation to see that in this, God did not deliver them from the fire. He delivered them through it. He allowed them to walk in the midst of what was meant to harm them, in order to validate them. He could have stayed the hand of the king or He could have quenched the flames, but instead, He allowed Nebuchadnezzar to have the furnace heated seven times hotter than normal.

This reveals to the believer that the greatest legacies are built in adversity. The greatest growth is obtained in the annuls of struggle and strain. There is no power in the circumvention of life's vicissitudes. There is no gain in sidestepping adversity. This is a war and the victory is won in the heat of battle, not in the quiet and comfort of perceived safe havens.

Sometimes you have to be exposed to the fire to remove impurifications that dull your shine. Sometimes the fire verifies your faith. Sometimes the fire allows you to reveal Christ to others. When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fiery furnace he noticed that there was an additional occupant. They had thrown in three, but now there was four. It is in the tests and trials that God is seen most clearly in your life. When people look at your in the midst of your struggles, but you are not defeated, you reveal Christ.

Dr. Rick Wallace

The prosperity and quiet time are the reward of faithful service and inexorable perseverance; however, the shine comes through the friction created in struggle. So when the darkness settles overhead, know that God is taking you through the tunnel of suffering in order to continue your down the road to your destiny. The darkness does not reflect His absence, but is a testimony of His faith in you. ~ Dr. Rick Wallace

Victorious Suffering

"Out of the spoils won in battle did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord" (1 Chron. 26:27).

Physical force is stored in the bowels of the earth, in the coal mines, which came from the fiery heat that burned up great forests in ancient ages; and so spiritual force is stored in the depths of our being, through the very pain which we cannot understand.

Some day we shall find that the spoils we have won from our trials were just preparing us to become true "Great Hearts" in the Pilgrim's Progress, and to lead our fellow pilgrims triumphantly through trial to the city of the King.

But let us never forget that the source of helping other people must be victorious suffering. The whining, murmuring pang never does anybody any good.

Paul did not carry a cemetery with him, but a chorus of victorious praise; and the harder the trial, the more he trusted and rejoiced, shouting from the very altar of sacrifice. He said, "Yea, and if I be offered upon the service and sacrifice of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all." Lord, help me this day to draw strength from all that comes to me!  --Days of Heaven upon Earth

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It is easy to get caught up in all that you are going through. Sometimes the darkness is so thick that you cannot see immediately in front of you. As we traverse the difficult moments in our life it is of the utmost importance to understand that it is in these moments of darkness that God builds, develops, strengthens and prepares His people.

The pain and darkness was not meant to create a victim, but to mold a victor. So often we rob ourselves of the victory by taking the role of a victim. Remember, by its very definition, being a victim places you in a position of helplessness. The victim mentality does not consider God's power, nor does it excogitate God's plan for your life. The victim mentality generates an aura of despair. Settle into the knowledge of God's plan for your life and know that he is in the background working His plan.

"11 For I know the plans(T) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper(U) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(V) (Jer. 29:11, NIV)

This is the Word of God to the nation of Israel during their 75 year exile and captivity by the Chaldeans in Babylon. It assures them that even as they experience the darkest of times His plans for them have not changed. He will use this trying time to strengthen their faith and empower their destiny.

Whatever it is that you are going through right now cannot compare to the glory that will be revealed in you at your coming out party. Don't give in to the temptation to whine and complain; don't acquiesce to the proclivity to give up, and don't surrender your faith to the moment. Instead, trust God to be God in every situation and every circumstance. God will always be bigger than your moment.

God has a specific plan for your life that He established before time began, and He is ready to work the supernatural in your life. Just when it seems that there is no hope, God will open up the door to your breakthrough. He will loose the shackles that are binding you and release you into an abundance of blessings. You are about to experience the power of God in a manner that you have never experiences before. ~ Dr. Rick Wallace