“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
It struck me that this answer addresses the two problems we as humans have when it comes to believing that God answers prayer:
1. Is God able? Does He have the power to answer my prayer?
2. Is God willing? Does He want to answer my prayer?
Too often as humans we doubt either God's ability or His willingness. I love that the three young men did neither.
In answer to the first question the young men stated categorically that they believed God is able, He does have the power!!!
For the second, it is clear from their answer that they do not know if He is willing. They are uncertain if God will save them. But this uncertainty does not rock them. They still refuse to compromise their beliefs.
It is as if they are saying, "God, we don't know which will bring you the most glory, for us to die in the fire? Or for you to save us from the fire? But we are content to go with your decision."
And if you think about it, from their point of view either option is surprisingly good. On the one hand they are saved and have an amazing first hand demonstration of God's love and power. On the other they die in the fire, but the next thing they will know is being resurrected and seeing Jesus come in the clouds to take them to heaven to be with Him forever and ever.
It would be helpful to us to copy them. When we pray, we have no need to doubt Gods power. The hand that made the universe can certainly answer our prayers.
And as for God's willingness, sometimes we know He is willing because we have promises that are directly applicable to our situation. In that case we can pray with confidence of receiving our desired answer. Sometimes we know that he is not willing. In those cases we should not even be asking.
But sometimes we just don't know, and in those cases all we can do is tell God, you do what will bring you the most glory and I'll be content with the outcome. After that we just wait, confident in God's love. Confident that the outcome He chooses will be the best one possible for us.
As one of my friends liked to say, "That's gold!"
