FAITH CAPSULE: Trust in the God whom you serve and hope in the power of His deliverance.

1 Samuel 13:1-14, Daniel 3

It is written, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:7) When a life terminating challenge occurs, it is easy for one that constantly claims trust in God to loose hope in waiting on God for deliverance. By this virtue, it can be concluded that it is possible to trust in God and not have hope in Him. King Saul knew God enough by trusting Him to accept and become the King for the children of Israel. Once, when he was to wait on God’s command that forbids all but the priest, from offering a burnt offering to God he failed to wait. King Saul lost hope and was compelled to violate the command of God. Does that sound like you?
Once, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to serve or worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold image, they were sentenced to the harsh penalty of death by the fiery furnace. However, they were determined to stand their ground for God because the trust and hope they were having in God was intact. King Nebuchadnezzar further questioned them about who would deliver them. They were so sure of their trust and hope in God as they responded, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.’”(Daniel 3:16) Is there any matter which is demanding you to compromise your faith? Is the matter threatening to you? You can be confident, just as these men of faith were, that you have no need to answer the question. Trust in the God whom you serve and hope in the power of His deliverance. They trusted God and responded in Daniel 3:17, “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” Seeing that they had been delivered from the furnace fire, King Nebuchadnezzar speaks in Daniel 3:28, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!” At every trust and hope in God the hand of the enemy shall be frustrated and shattered. Our trust in God will uphold us in the presence of our enemy. If you trust and hope in Him, act it out and He will react because He is a God of knowledge and by Him actions are weighed. (1 Samuel 2:3)

Prayer for today: Ask God to endue you with the grace that causes man to stand in trust regardless of the circumstances.