Unbound

I have always loved the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. About a year or so ago, my pastor's wife, women's minister, and mentor, Leighann McCoy put a completely different spin on this story for me and I want to share it with you. I was reminded of this today as I read Daniel 3. This story is a story of obedience and God's provision; of how God rescues us. But deep in the scripture there is a little gem tucked away. In verse 25, King Neb is describing the men he sees in the furnace. This is where we usually pull out the fact that God is with them and that they are unharmed by the fire that was heated 7 times hotter than usual; so hot that the people who threw them into the fire were killed. But look at the word unbound. "He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” They went into the fire tied by "some of the strongest soldiers in the army" (vs. 20). 

Sometimes we have to go through a fire to be released from the things that have us bound!

Have you ever felt the freedom that comes when you get on the other side of something difficult? How about when you're hiking and going up that hill is exhausting, but then you get to the top and the view takes your breath away. OR maybe you are exercising, and like me you want to quit about a quarter of the way through. But you keep going and when you finish you are so full of energy and joy and confidence, and you don't feel guilty about having that ice cream earlier. I know that these are trivial examples, but the principles are the same in our trials and struggles of life: our fires. Losing my son was one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through. I prayed so many nights that I could just go on to Heaven. I didn't want to feel that way anymore. But I learned to trust in the Lord, each moment and I learned that "even if God does not rescue me" (Dan. 3:18) that God was still God and I had a reason to worship Him. I learned the incredible experience of allowing God to use a fire in my life, and every fire after that, to burn off the ties, ropes, burdens, sorrows, guilt, shame, hopelessness, frustrations, fears and anything else that had me bound. 

I was asked just the other day, 'how can things go from thunderstorm after thunderstorm, to things are great and wonderful and joyful?' The answer is simply, Jesus. By His grace and compassion, and the people that took me by the hand and led me to His feet. Jesus burned off the binding ties around my heart and set me free so that I could see the full and abundant life that He longs to give me, even in the midst of pain and struggle. What has you bound today? What has you so trapped in your struggles that you can't find the One who is walking right beside you through your fire? Pray and ask God to soften your heart and to reveal these things to you. Humble yourself and allow Him to set you free! I am praying for you today!