“But even if,” wow the power of that phrase. The faith in that simple three words stuns me. A friend of mine sent me a passage of scripture from the Book of Daniel this week and these three simple words made me have to re-read the passage over and over again. This week has been a tough one with control issues and getting frustrated at God for allowing life to go in a direction that I didn’t want. I did not understand (and to be honest I still don’t fully understand) why He was letting something happen. How could this happen? Why wouldn’t God jump in and intervene? But as you can see through this passage of Daniel it might not be God’s intervention that we really need but rather our unwavering trust in him. To give you the context of the power of this faith let’s take a look at Daniel 3.

Daniel 3:13-18

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Wow. But Even If. But even if we die a terrible and painful death. But even if God does not show up in the way I expect or feel like I deserve. But even if I don’t get what I want when I want it. (are you starting to see how this simple phrase could be thrown around in your everyday life?)

I look at the strength and the determination to stay faithful even though overwhelming circumstances in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and I feel as if I fail miserably. The circumstances in my life do not even compare to a blazing furnace and yet I stomp my feet and throw a tantrum when God’s timeline does not match up to my color coded Planner. When I have to wait on God’s timing or I don’t see my prayer’s answered in the way I think they should be addressed and I sulk. How would my life be different if I relinquished control and I lived a “But even if” lifestyle? Because in the end you can write and rewrite schedules until the cows come home but the only thing that we have control over is our reactions to circumstances and whether we trust God wholeheartedly to act in our best interest like the Bible says he will in Romans 8:28

“28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

But even if my circumstances are hard and the outcome is not what I want. But even if God does not do my bidding. But even if……I will still stand faithful and trust that God is fully in control