“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!” (Daniel 3:26-27 NLT)
Three Hebrew boys were thrown into a furnace by the Bablyonian king Nebuchadnezzar. They came out of the fire unscorched because of their persevering faith.
All of us go through periods of fire if we live long enough. The furnace of suffering is painful. Yet, there can be transformation in the process of going through the fire. We can either become unhinged by affliction or step out unsinged by the fire. Our character is refined by how we respond to trials. Our natural reactions may include fear, frustration, anger, confusion, resentment, regret, self-pity, and a whole host of unproductive emotions and behaviors. The grace of God gives us other options. We can access supernatural gifts of selfless love, generosity without expectations of reciprocity, peace that surpasses understanding, forbearance, faithfulness, and acceptance.
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