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The Whiplash Life
Jon Burgess“Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments.” Daniel 3:20-21
Hold on a second here! Push the rewind button. We literally just read at the end of the previous chapter how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were promoted to oversee all the affairs of the province of Babylon (Dan 2:49). This is literally going from the pinnacle to the pit. The whiplash of events could break your neck and your faith if not prepared for it. What sustained these three men of God through such highs and lows? The One they served is the one who sustained. The One they worshipped is the one who went with them into the furnished palaces and the fiery pits. The One who spoke to them in the quiet places is the one who sustained them in the public ones.
Scripture is replete with examples of going from triumphs to testing. Just after Jesus gets water baptized He is led by The Spirit to be tested in the wilderness (Mt. 4:1-11). Abraham has a powerful moment with God speaking promises about the generations and then he lies about his wife being his sister (Gen. 12:9-13). David and his men have a major victory over the Amalekites and then he catches Bathsheba taking a bath (2 Sam 11:1-2). Moses has an epic life-changing conversation with a burning bush and then fails to prepare his family for through the covenant of circumcision (Ex. 4:20-24). How can I make sure I succeed like Jesus did? The One who speaks to me will sustain me. Strength won't sustain me. Success won't sustain me. Security won't sustain me. Sincere relationships won't sustain me. From crescendo to decrescendo the cadence of communication with my Creator must remain consistent. It's only by Your Spirit I will be able to face the tests of success and sorrow and live through the whiplash realities of life.
Thank You Lord for sustaining me by Your Spirit through every peak and plateau. Whether I've just experience a monumental weekend like the 22nd Anniversary of New Hope or I'm facing the sometime mundane and monotonous routines of the day to day You are the One who sustains me. It just takes moments like these in Your presence with Your Word to know I can pass the tests that await.
