By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

It was hot. Sizzling hot. The officials that had to throw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace died due to the heat. Still, the three friends refused to bow their knees before the statue in Babylon.

Esther took that step forward, entering the King’s presence – uninvited. She knew that if he did not put forth his scepter to approve her presence, she could die.

And David, with five stones in his pocket and his sling, walked up to the three-meter giant Goliath, knowing that the battle could go either way.

Three actions of faith and hope in God, with no guarantee or physical evidence that they would survive. Listen to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's words of faith in Daniel 3:17-18 when king Nebuchadnezzar threatened them with the fiery furnace: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. . .  But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” In Esther 4:16 Esther told Mordecai to ask the people of Israel to pray and fast with her before going to the king. Listen to how she ends their conversation: “Then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” And in 1 Samuel 17: 45-46 David said to Goliath: “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head.”

Are you currently experiencing a situation in which you too need to act in faith without knowing the outcome – maybe in your workplace, relationships, finances or a decision about your future? Listen to the words of Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”

Because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego kept their eyes on God, He saved them from the fiery furnace without a scorched hair on their heads (bringing King Nebuchadnezzar to faith in God). God enabled Esther to plead with the King for the survival of the Jews (the nation from whom Jesus was born later). And God helped David to crush the giant's head.

God can do the same for us. Let us remember that our faith is demonstrated in how we act when there is no physical evidence or guarantee that our breakthrough is on the way. God bless.

Father God, thank You that I can put my faith and trust in You because You know the future. Please strengthen me to remain faithful in those moments where everything seems to be too much for me to bear. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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