I’d imagine many of us can relate to the Israelites living in exile. We can relate with the pressures put on us as pilgrims in a foreign land.

Today, we can take inspiration from Rack, Shack, and Benny (thanks Veggie Tales). They were exiled Israelites living in Babylon and working in the king’s court. Not only could they not offer sacrifice to God since they away from the Temple, but they were being forced to worship a foreign god. We too may face similar challenges, with our foreign gods being health, financial stability, or comfort. Given this command, what do the three young men answer?

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.” What a beautiful trust of God’s saving power! They are following the longstanding Hebrew belief in God coming to the aid of those who follow His covenant. We are in the same position: the same position to answer in the same way.

But this is not the only part of their response to the king. They continue, “But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.” What? Why would God not come to help those who trust in him? We know how this story ends, with an angel coming to prevent them from being consumed in the fire. Imagine with me, however, that the angel had come to comfort them rather than to save them, to be God’s presence as they died in the fire. Would this be a violation of God’s promise to his people?

God is in the business of saving, and we already share in the victory of Jesus upon the cross over sin and death. Sometimes salvation doesn’t look like we think it does. Regardless, our trust in the Lord does not and cannot change. Even if God appears absent, Christians do not succumb to despair and fall into false worship. Of course, we know that God is never truly away from us. And from my own experience, I know that following the false gods leads to dissatisfaction, emptiness, and desolation.

This life promises hard days ahead, full of plenty of unknowns. We will all face some temptation or demand on our faith in God. It is He who will keep us whole. The witness of Rack, Shack, and Benny offers me a great challenge in seeing the depth of my trust in God, but it leaves me with great hope in him that he will be with us always.

How am I reaching out and responding to God during this time?

Where am I struggling to have faith in God right now?

Where am I experiencing God's presence right now?

"Jesus, I trust in you."

​"Christ is victorious."

"Be with me, Lord."

Commit to seeing God in each activity today: whether work, eating, watching Netflix, reading a book, talking to a friend or a stranger, doing the dishes, going to sleep. Know that God is with you in that moment. And notice when you feel a negative feeling like fear, and intentionally commit to trusting God in that moment. Like Rack, Shack, and Benny, trust that God has your back, no matter how he goes about it.