Nestled in His Hand

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand"- Isaiah 41:10 (NIV).

There are some scary things we do that are of our own making like parachuting out of an airplane or our first time public speaking; however, life sometimes deals us a hand we have no control over that creates holes in the dam that holds back our fear and anxiety; especially if the consequences are weighty. Most of us cannot identify with these extremes. I'm happy for you, but those who have endured such levels of fear and anxiety emerge from the fire stronger and with a greater sense of God's presence and delivery. The Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, of Daniel 3, could not have been the same three men who emerged from the blazing furnace King Nebuchadnezzar had stoked seven times hotter than usual. Were they alone in that furnace? They were not. "[King Nebuchadnezzar] said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods" (Daniel 3:25). God upheld them with His righteous right hand. Lord, we want to be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but fear the fire. Please give us courage when it is needed and faith that, when we emerge, we will find ourselves nestled in Your hand.