Standing Firm in Faith

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Daniel 3:16-18

This past Sunday, I had the privilege of teaching the children in my outreach ministry about the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three young men were faced with a difficult and dangerous choice. They were commanded by King Nebuchadnezzar to bow down and worship a golden idol, but they refused, knowing that it would dishonor their one true God. They stood firm in their faith and boldly declared, "Even if God does not rescue us, we will not serve your gods."

As I meditate and prepare for this lesson, I realized how hard it can be to stand firm in our faith, especially when we're surrounded by people who may have different views or beliefs.

I face this challenge too—especially when I go to school each day. It's not always easy to stay true to my faith when I meet people with different beliefs, and there are times when it feels easier to stay quiet or blend in with the crowd. But in moments like those, I think about the courage of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who chose to honor God no matter what the cost.

A song by Leanna Crawford, "Uncool", has also encouraged me in this. The song says:

"If it’s uncool to say that I love Jesus,

If it’s uncool to sing about my freedom,

Then I’m cool being uncool."

That line is a reminder that, like these three men, we can choose to be “uncool” in the world’s eyes in order to remain faithful to God. Even when our faith might not be popular, we can stand firm knowing that God sees us, and He honors our boldness.

I know from experience that it’s difficult to be the one who stands out, whether at school or in other situations. But just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we can trust that God will be with us. He was with them in the fire, so even in moments when we feel alone or "uncool," God’s presence will give us the strength to keep going.

The kids in my outreach ministry were encouraged by this lesson, and I hope you are too. The key takeaway is that no matter the pressure we face, we can remain confident in God's love and protection. We don’t have to compromise our faith to fit in—we can stand firm, knowing that God honors those who honor Him.

Take a moment to reflect on times when God has given you the courage to stand for what is right. How did He show up for you, even when it wasn’t easy?