Please read Daniel 3,  prior to reading this snippet.

Each of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour (Joh 3:16) has a wonderful blessing – we can “count [consider] it all joy” when we go through trials (Jam 1:2).  This is because the purpose of each trial is to build “steadfastness” (Jam 1:3) – that is engineer a stronger and more meaningful relationship with God who is the “rock” and “horn of our salvation” (2 Sam 22:3).  As our steadfastness grows so does our realisation that we are “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (Jam 1:4) when we fully trust in Him.  I suggest Paul demonstrated the highest level of steadfastness possible when he declared “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21).

I believe Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego also demonstrated the highest degree of “steadfastness” when they refused to worship anything or anyone other than our God knowing this would cost them their lives.  It is difficult to imagine their experience. They were prominent in the community (Dan 2:49) so they must have known their defiance would be noticed – yet they still chose to remain faithful to God. When the king threatened to throw them into the fiery furnace (Dan 3:13,14,15) they simply responded

“…If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king…” Dan 3:17

And even when they were thrown into the furnace, made so hot that even the men who threw them in died (Dan 3:19,22), they did not resist or change their mind (Dan 3:23).  Remarkably, even when in the furnace they did not cry out, instead, they spent time with our Lord forging greater steadfastness as they grew closer to our God.

The king must have realised something unexpected was happening. Compelled to look into the furnace he saw Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and one other! Astonished and in awe he invited Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to come out, declaring our God to be the “Most High” (Dan 3:26).

In summary, Shadrach’s, Meshach’s and Abednego’s trial of faith brought them closer to God, it also helped Nebuchadnezzar (the king) to see God’s magnificent saving power.  Let us therefore “count [consider] it all joy” when we go through trials knowing that they have a divine purpose and will be for good (Rom 8:28).