Three young Jewish men of nobility,

their city occupied by a foreign nation,

are carried off and placed in the service of a foreign despot, King Nebuchadnezzar.

Their faith in the Lord was tested, but they never wavered.

When it was decreed that everyone was to bow down and worship the idol of this Babylonian king, these three young men─Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego─refused. The consequence for their refusal was death, to be thrown into a fiery furnace. When the king gave them one last chance to bow down to his idol and be spared from death, these three gave an amazing response.

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18 NLT)

The most astounding part of their response to the king is the “even if he doesn’t.” They fully believed that God was able to save them from a fiery death. I even imagine before they were called to stand before the king, they had prayed. They knew the consequence for refusing to bow down the king’s idol. Their prayer would have been to ask God to miraculously cause a turn of events so they would not be thrown into that fiery furnace. But their “even if” statement makes it clear that their faith in God did not depend on an answer to that prayer in the way they desired. Their faith did not demand that God spare them from death.

Their “even if he doesn’t” reveals a supernatural peace that each of these three possessed—a peace that was theirs not because God had promised to rescue them, but a peace from knowing that no matter what happened, God was with them.

They didn’t seek after the peace that comes from an answered prayer.

Instead, they sought after the One who is peace.

There are times when I have faced a difficult or trying situation in my life. When I would lay down my head on the pillow at night and sleep would evade me as anxiety and turmoil robbed me of peace. And I would pray! I would pray for God to heal, to intervene, to deliver. I so desperately wanted the peace that comes from an answered prayer.

But the Lord has challenged me with the example set by these three young men:

Do I seek the peace that comes from an answered prayer more than the One who is peace?

Certainly, God wants us to bring our troubles to Him, and there is a wonderful peace that we experience when a prayer is answered. But that peace is temporary, lasting until the next problem arrives at our door. Yet if we are honest, all too often that is the peace we seek, the peace that comes when the storm ceases. But when we seek the Peace-Giver, He gives to us a supernatural peace that is with us “even if” the storms of life continue to rage. His peace is everlasting, a peace that keeps us safe in the “eye” of a storm.

So, if today you are facing a storm or a fiery furnace of trouble, seek Him, seek the peace of His presence. Then like those three young men, declare, “God, I know You can answer my prayers, but “even if” You don’t answer them in the way I want, in the timing I desire, I rest in Your presence. I embrace Your peace, knowing you are with me in the storm, you are with me in the fire.”

Embrace these words written by the Apostle Paul and exemplified in the lives of these three young men:

“May the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way (that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances.)”  2 Thessalonians 3:16 AMP