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Growing Joy and Freedom in the Fiery Furnace-by Heidi McLaughlin

Posted: March 8, 2021

Let’s face it; we don’t like being thrust out of our comfort zone. But if we knew that adversity revealed our destiny and freedom, how would we handle life differently? Even when we can’t see it, it’s when we’re in the fire of adversity where we become more beautiful from the inside out. It’s in the firestorms of life where we find our freedom. How is that possible?

In the book of Daniel there were three young men named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who disobeyed King Nebuchadnezzar’s orders and were thrown into the fiery furnace. The King ordered the strongest men of his army to securely tie up the three disobedient protestors and throw them into the blazing furnace. Did you notice there were tied up? Because when they came out of the furnace they were unscathed, and the only item that burned were the ropes binding them together.

And, they did not smell of smoke.

This reminds us that in our fiery furnace moments, not only is God with us and we’re never alone, but that God wants to set us free from the things that bind us.

Adversity hurts but it forces us to look at life differently. It helps us to sift and sort through the rubble and prioritize the things in life that really matter. For example, it’s through my pain that I was able to let go of:

• Perfection and people pleasing. I was so done with trying to live my life looking for other people’s approval when God’s approval is the only one that matters.
• Not letting other people’s offenses or bad behaviour affect my joy.
• Extending more grace realizing that we’re all struggling to live our very best life.

It’s not until we hit rock bottom that we wake up and realize that emotional and spiritual drama is a waste of energy and time.

Adversity is not meant to destroy us.

I fully believe God uses our pain and suffering to reveal treasures that want to stay hidden in our familiar and comfort zones.  Being set free is one of the greatest gifts Christ gives us. After all He died on the cross so that we can live with freedom and joy.

I know it’s hard, but let’s use this difficult time in the history of the world to set us free from things that bog us down, cause us unnecessary stress, lose sleep or focus on the wrong things.

Ask God a question: “God, in what areas of my life do I need to be set free?” Then wait for the answer.

 

Posted in: adversity, ask God, beauty and joy, Beauty from the Inside Out, fiery furnace, fiery furnae, Freedom, fresh joy, grace, joy, Offenses, pain, people pleasing, perfectionism, refined like silver, suffering