Dancing In The Flames

I have a confession to make. Since my last post I’ve cried almost every day. I’ve felt worthless and very depressed. I’ve also enlisted my ‘Ladies of the Round Table’ to pray with and for me. It’s been very uncomfortable making lemonade out of the lemons I’ve been given.

Yet God is perfect in His timing. My pastor’s sermon was right on, this weekend, and what I needed to hear. It reminded me that I’d written about this same thing a year or so ago. I called it Dancing in the Flames.

When we are in the firey furnace of life’s troubles, God IS with us. We may not FEEL Him, or see Him, but he IS there!

Isaiah 43:2 (God’s promise to us) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you (or “go over you” to cause drowning). When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.

God said WHEN we go through these things. He knows we WILL go through tough times. We need to realize it is a given that there are times we will be ‘fired up’.

Daniel 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spoke and said to his counselors, “Didn’t we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered, “Look, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

Whatever trouble – physical and/or emotional – we are in, God is with us. He promises to be with us when we PASS THROUGH these things. He was with the 3 friends in the fiery furnace. He is with us also.

I cannot say why we are going through the troubles we have, however, God’s glory can shine in our situation, as He told Paul when Paul asked for healing and God said no:

2Corinthians 12:7-10 (Paul was writing a letter to the Corinthian Believers of his day) By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations (that were given to Paul by God), that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.  8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

I stand in agreement with Paul, I would rather be weak so His strength can shine through me and “Dance in the Flames”‘, if you will, and let GOD’S POWER work through me, than to have a perfect life without Him.

Dear Lord, Help me to be empathetic to those in trouble when I’m doing good and to bless others when I am going through hard times. Please never let me forget You or forsake You when my life is pleasant.  Help me shine my light for others to see YOU… even when things seem bleak… It just occurred to me, Lord, that when I lament in my troubles, I hurt Your feelings, because You have already worked it all out. You have told us through Paul in Romans 8:28 ” We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. (WEB”) and for me to be sad is to insult You. Give me courage not to insult You Lord, and give me strength to dance with You in the flames as if nobody’s watching.… Amen – Hallelu-Yah!