Even If He Doesn't

Key Truth: Mature faith doesn't only trust God's ability; it trusts God's authority. It submits to God's sovereignty and responds with, "Even if He doesn’t, I still trust Him.”

Scripture Anchor:

Daniel 3:17-18: If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Consider This: This week, I typed out each Scripture because I needed us to see the Word for ourselves. I needed us to see what it looks like to have faith in an unfailing Father when our faith faces the fire. Life has a way of showing us that sooner or later, our faith will face a moment when what we believe collides with what we see.

A moment when we must decide:, "Will I bow because of what I'm facing, or will I stand because of Who I know?"

Shadrach, Meshach, and A bad...(Shy stay focused) Abed-Nego faced that moment. The king gave them a choice: bow or burn and their response in Daniel 3:17-18 is powerful. They basically said, "Our God is able to deliver us, BUT even if He doesn't, we still won't bow.”

Whew, girlfriend, that there is a mature faith! Because we love faith that says, "God Can!" Come on:

• God can heal.

• God can restore.

• God can provide.

• God can open the door.

• God can change the situation.

• God can turn it around.

And He absolutely can, BUT WHAT IF HE DOES NOT DO THOSE THINGS?

Mature faith moves us from only trusting God's ability to also trusting His authority.

Ability asks, "Can God do it?" And the answer is, "Absolutely." Authority asks, "Can I trust God to decide how He does it?" and that's where faith meets sovereignty.

God's sovereignty simply means God is God.

He sees what we cannot see. He knows what we cannot know. He understands what we cannot understand and He remains God even when His decision looks different from our desire.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego believed God could keep them from the fire, but their faith was strong enough to trust Him even if He allowed them to go through the fire.

That's the kind of faith we're pursuing. Faith that asks boldly without demanding.

Faith that believes fully without controlling. Faith that hopes for deliverance, but refuses to bow if deliverance looks different than expected.

I know that I have some Girlfriends, who would agree with me that, sometimes God keeps us from the fire, but there are other times when God meets us in the fire! Right? Sometimes He changes our circumstances, and sometimes He changes us while we walk through them.

But here's the question I am asking myself this week and passing on to you, "When our faith faces the fire, will we still trust the Father?" It is my prayer that as we face fire seasons, we will settle in our spirits: "God can because He is able and He alone is sovereign. And even if He doesn't, I still trust Him."

Because mature faith doesn't require God to prove His faithfulness by giving us our preferred outcome. It trusts that He is faithful, period.

Reflection Questions:

1. What “fire” is testing my faith right now?

2. Am I trusting God or am I trusting God to give me the outcome I want?

3. Is there an area where I trust God's ability but struggle to submit to His authority?

4. What would it look like for me to say, “Even if He doesn't, I still trust Him”?

Application:

Face the Fire With Faith:

Identify one situation where your faith is facing the fire. Tell God what you desire, then surrender the outcome:

“Father, I know You can. I believe You are able, but even if You don’t do it the way I desire, I still trust You.”

Then live like you trust Him. Keep praying, obeying and worshiping. Don’t bow.

Prayer: Father, when my faith faces the fire, help me to trust You. I know You are able and I submit to Your authority. Whether You change the situation or meet me in the middle of it; I choose to trust Your heart. Even if You don't, I still trust You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Closing Declaration: When my faith faces the fire, I will stand because God can! He is able and He is sovereign! I will not bow to fear, doubt or what I see.

Even if He doesn't, I still trust Him.