Deep thoughts by me, The Motherboard.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Recently, I have been watching someone I love go through a very difficult thing. My heart aches for her, as we sit and talk, and run the "what if's" over and over. My heart hurts as I watch her struggle to make sense of her new reality.
As this trial for my loved one has unfolded, I have found myself reflecting on one of my favorite stories from the Old Testament, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
I love this story because of 3 little words...
But if not...
The 3 amigos, as I lovingly call them (please don't thrust me down to hell for that one...) refuse to bow down to the kings idols. He is angry, and tells his servants to make his fiery furnace 7 times hotter than usual-- so he can burn these guys alive. The King mocks them, and says that if they didn't fall down and worship his idol properly, he would thrust them into the fiery furnace and they would burn to death, and really, who did they think would deliver them? Not their silly God... he, their king, was the one with all the power.
I love love love this next part... My 3 heroes say: "17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to adeliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
As this trial for my loved one has unfolded, I have found myself reflecting on one of my favorite stories from the Old Testament, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
I love this story because of 3 little words...
But if not...
The 3 amigos, as I lovingly call them (please don't thrust me down to hell for that one...) refuse to bow down to the kings idols. He is angry, and tells his servants to make his fiery furnace 7 times hotter than usual-- so he can burn these guys alive. The King mocks them, and says that if they didn't fall down and worship his idol properly, he would thrust them into the fiery furnace and they would burn to death, and really, who did they think would deliver them? Not their silly God... he, their king, was the one with all the power.
I love love love this next part... My 3 heroes say: "17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to adeliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not aserve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up"
I love that whole but if not part. Because that is where our faith comes into play.
But if not... Essentially they were saying that they know that God could deliver them from the Kings hands, but if not, they would never stop believing in their God, and they would never turn their hearts from Him.
We are all faced, at various times, with things we wish the Lord would take away... Things that we would rather not have to deal with or even experience. Sometimes we can pray and pray and pray, and nothing seems to change. Our trials do not go away... they are still there. Some would find themselves wondering where God is? Why is he not answering my righteous desire? That's where that whole but if not phrase comes into play.
Sometimes we have to do hard things. We can go to church, read our scriptures, pray, and those hard things are still there, every morning waiting for us. No matter what we do, they just wont go away. That is when the but if not phrase comes into play... "Lord, I need you take this trial from me. I can't do this anymore. But if not, I will still be true and faithful to you." It's how we react in the but if not part that Lord is interested in seeing. And I think, that's the hardest one to give.
I mean, who doesn't want to have their trials removed? I know I do. But if not, I will stand firm. It will be hard, but I will not waiver. I know, just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego did, that the Lord is perfectly capable of delivering us from our own personal "fiery furnaces", however, sometimes he doesn't. And the whole but if not part means that even if my crappy stuff is still here in the morning, I will be steadfast and immovable in my commitment to Christ.
Sometimes our faith is pushed to the very edge, and we have to rely on that but if not principal. We have to trust that even though things aren't turning out the way we want them to, God is still in control, and aware. We know that Heavenly Father will not try us beyond what we can handle, and further, we know that these trials are what make us not only a better person, but also one step closer to being more like Him.
We have to have faith that God will deliver us from the trials of teenagers going astray... but if not...
We have to have faith that God will deliver us from the trials of sick children... but if not...
We have to have faith that God will help our home sell... but if not...
We have to have faith that God will deliver us from a wayward spouse or a difficult marriage... but if not...
We have to have faith that God will deliver us from the trial of not being able to have children... But if not... We will still believe in God and we will still press forward in Faith.
That is the test that God has sent us here to perform. He wants to see what will happen when we are faced with that but if not part of our faith.
I love that whole but if not part. Because that is where our faith comes into play.
But if not... Essentially they were saying that they know that God could deliver them from the Kings hands, but if not, they would never stop believing in their God, and they would never turn their hearts from Him.
We are all faced, at various times, with things we wish the Lord would take away... Things that we would rather not have to deal with or even experience. Sometimes we can pray and pray and pray, and nothing seems to change. Our trials do not go away... they are still there. Some would find themselves wondering where God is? Why is he not answering my righteous desire? That's where that whole but if not phrase comes into play.
Sometimes we have to do hard things. We can go to church, read our scriptures, pray, and those hard things are still there, every morning waiting for us. No matter what we do, they just wont go away. That is when the but if not phrase comes into play... "Lord, I need you take this trial from me. I can't do this anymore. But if not, I will still be true and faithful to you." It's how we react in the but if not part that Lord is interested in seeing. And I think, that's the hardest one to give.
I mean, who doesn't want to have their trials removed? I know I do. But if not, I will stand firm. It will be hard, but I will not waiver. I know, just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego did, that the Lord is perfectly capable of delivering us from our own personal "fiery furnaces", however, sometimes he doesn't. And the whole but if not part means that even if my crappy stuff is still here in the morning, I will be steadfast and immovable in my commitment to Christ.
Sometimes our faith is pushed to the very edge, and we have to rely on that but if not principal. We have to trust that even though things aren't turning out the way we want them to, God is still in control, and aware. We know that Heavenly Father will not try us beyond what we can handle, and further, we know that these trials are what make us not only a better person, but also one step closer to being more like Him.
We have to have faith that God will deliver us from the trials of teenagers going astray... but if not...
We have to have faith that God will deliver us from the trials of sick children... but if not...
We have to have faith that God will help our home sell... but if not...
We have to have faith that God will deliver us from a wayward spouse or a difficult marriage... but if not...
We have to have faith that God will deliver us from the trial of not being able to have children... But if not... We will still believe in God and we will still press forward in Faith.
That is the test that God has sent us here to perform. He wants to see what will happen when we are faced with that but if not part of our faith.
How are you doing?
1/13/09 8:15 AM
Yesit TOTALLY makes sense! I have been going through my own trial and I love the analogy. Although my struggle may seem little to others it is huge for me! I wish for the Lord to answer a prayer of many years BUT IF NOT. . .I know He will in His time.
Thanks for the thought. I needed to hear it.
1/13/09 8:20 AM
I like the 3 amigos too . . . I think it is partly there names but mostly their faith - I wish I could stand so firm in ALL trials and worries. A day at a time towards that :)
1/13/09 8:38 AM
There was a conference talk a couple years ago, using the same three word.. But if NOT! I love it! Great thoughts.
I hope things work out for your friend
1/13/09 8:43 AM
Oh how I needed this inspiration and reassurance today...life does bring each of us our own "woes" and we each handle them so differently...BUT...the principle of FAITH is still the same...thank you thank you thank you...
1/13/09 8:46 AM
Wow that was beautiful. Thank you so much for that. I've had trials and watched people go through trials that the Lord has not taken away. This is such a good example that we just need to keep going, keep our faith strong and put our hope in Christ.
1/13/09 8:49 AM
Excellent post and what a good reminder. Thank you!
I hope your friend finds peace.
1/13/09 8:50 AM
Wow. What a post. I had never given so much thought to those 3 simple words. I can't wait to share this with all my young women :)
Thanks you!
1/13/09 8:55 AM
You know, some of the time the word "but" is negative. You know what I mean .... BUT MOM! BUT I DON'T WANTA. I have a Big Bu... (wait that is something different; sorry.) Etc.
I love that this puts BUT into positive. I will be thinking about this one. m
1/13/09 8:58 AM
excellent post! thank you.
1/13/09 9:08 AM
I love the 3 amigos story too. It's one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing such an amazing post!!
1/13/09 9:09 AM
Thank you for this. I had never thought of it before. This is something I will definitely be thinking about a lot.
1/13/09 9:13 AM
What a good perspective.
1/13/09 9:21 AM
Beautifully said. I always try to remember that the Lord knows why we are going through certain trials. He is trying to make us better, and if He doesn't deliver us right away, it's because there is a good reason.
1/13/09 9:23 AM
Really great post. It is an eye opener. Thanks. I think I might print this off for a friend. Her husband might have cancer they are awaiting the results. Very inspiring message Motherboard.
1/13/09 9:25 AM
Great post. I love a recent talk by Elder Eyring given at a BYU devotional: The Power of Deliverance. He talks about the how we all need deliverance. But how and when it comes is very individually based. I love that talk, and I listen to it all the time! Great post, this was my bucket filler for the day!
1/13/09 9:33 AM
First off, sorry about your loved one. I am sure glad that you are there for them. I love that story too. I really appreciate those 3 new words that will ring after my trials. Thanks for the But if not in my life now.
1/13/09 9:50 AM
Amazing post! This is my favorite Old Testament story.
1/13/09 10:04 AM
Such a good (and beautiful) reminder. "But if not" is the hardest part of faith.
1/13/09 10:07 AM
Amazing...what a great perspective, and a great inspiration for me! Thanks!
1/13/09 10:33 AM
AWESOME! Thank you for that. I feel like I just sat through a really amazing RS lesson.
1/13/09 10:35 AM
WOW! Timely posting since I think I might be at my wit's end. My last nerve. This is my favorite story from the Old Testament. And I love that you call them the three amigos.
Last Sunday, my son and his two best friends were attending the sacrament table. When I referred to them as the three amigos, they told me they were instead Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego! : )
Thanks for the always insightful post
xoxox
1/13/09 10:50 AM
That was worthy of publication in the Ensign. I love that and it could not have come at a better time! I am having trouble with my "but if not". Thank you for bringing things into perspective again.♥
1/13/09 10:58 AM
I agree with you completely. In our prayers about the sale of our store we have added in the past month or so "Thy will not mine" and we have recently added in the "but if not" as well. But if not then help us to stand equal to the trial set before us....is a phrase that gets used a lot in our household
1/13/09 11:17 AM
What a great reminder! I think I'll read that story to my children tonight~
Zana
Did you get my e-mail about the fall swap?
1/13/09 11:31 AM
Thanks for such beautiful words Cuz♥♥
Love ya
1/13/09 12:36 PM
WHAT A GREAT POSTS!!!!! You are so right... THAT is a good one, I am going to file that one away in my mind for a lesson some time! But if not... LOVE IT!!! THANK YOU!!!
1/13/09 12:50 PM
Okay, THAT was great. I don't think I have EVER noticed those three little words ever. I will now. Thank you for a wonderful, wonderful lesson today.
1/13/09 12:51 PM
Beautifully said. I think we all need to remember this in our pleading. It's part of aligning our will to that of the Lord's. Thank you.
1/13/09 12:53 PM
Its so true but hadn't thought of it quite that way before! THanx for sharing your take on it--I need to go write it down! (not like word for word--just the idea)
1/13/09 1:01 PM
That was great. Thank you. I'm sending a friend a link to this post. I think she may need it, too.
1/13/09 1:08 PM
Thank you! I think this little principle could be applied to ANYTHING in life. Even the little things.
Thank you for bringing it to light for us!
1/13/09 1:10 PM
p.s. I had fun painting with you this morning!
You rock! and so does your house!
1/13/09 2:41 PM
I may be wrong, but I think one of the general authorities spoke on this very topic during General Conference--or maybe it was our stake president--I can't remember, but I loved the thought behind this too. Thanks for the reminder on faith!
1/13/09 3:46 PM
Thanks for this. Sometimes we need to get down to the real stuff, I appreciate it.
1/13/09 4:40 PM
Thanks for sharing and reminding us...but if not...something we all have to face in one way or another.
1/13/09 6:21 PM
But if not, is the hardest part of the trial sometimes. Good thoughts here.
1/13/09 8:46 PM
Love this post. In my experience, I have found that the "but if nots" have a purpose under heaven. It isn't that He can't answer our prayers, or that He doesn't want to answer our prayers; He's just further sighted than me. Sometimes the teaching moments that come from the "but if nots" are the very lessons we need to grow, stretch, and become. Ultimately, He is concerned with building our eternal character--that can not be done without trial, without faith. It's so scary, though, to be out there, hoping. That's when I find looking for the little blessings that always come. It may not be the ultimate solution, but they are there to let you know He is listening; He is aware; He is at the helm.
1/13/09 9:35 PM
I needed that today! Thanks
1/13/09 11:06 PM
Totally excellent post!!! Thanks for a fantastic reminder.
I hope I'm doing good on this one. I think I am.
1/14/09 6:46 AM
Thanks....I needed that!
1/14/09 10:55 AM
Great reminder. When I was a kid, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were my favorite Bible characters.
1/14/09 12:20 PM
Thank you. That just changed my day...made it better!!
1/15/09 9:39 PM
This was amazing! I loved it and needed this reminder. Thanks so much!
1/16/09 11:05 AM
I just saw this post! Don't know how I missed it!
This is awesome and I love how it applies to every aspect of my life right now!
OK, the word verification thingie is out to get me... "hazed"
1/19/09 6:31 AM
I love those three words... it let's me know there is always a plan b. thanks for sharing that.