~Look How Far You've Come Baby!

Unbound and Unharmed....they came out of the fire....The fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed... (Daniel 3:25B-27B)

The men who were cast into the fiery furnace came out as they went in - except their bonds. That is the way Christians should come out of furnace trials - liberated from their bonds, but untouched by the flames. (Mrs. Charles E. Cowman)

As I spent some time with someone I love dearly yesterday, there were words coming from their mouth that were stinging to the core. While I am not sure they realized the piercing impact of those particular accusations, it still didn't matter ~ I just wanted to leave the situation and return to the safety and security of my home. I was hurt, and, angry beyond expression, and, just had to sit, unable to express my thoughts.

However, in a very weird way, it was also almost encouraging to me to realize "How far I've come baby". A few years ago those words from anyone, but particularlly that individual, would have shattered me to tears and devestation. I would have beaten myself up for not being good enough, not doing enough, not giving enough, and, dug even deeper to give more at the sacrifice of my family and myself. ~ but, I think I have been in a furnace these last years, and, perhaps a few bonds were left behind. ~ I question if a few hairs were maybe singed though :)

For the remaining evening and throughout the night I wrestled with whether those words were true ~ And, beautifully, very much unlike my personality, I consistently found myself strong and confident enough in my Lord's love and guidance that I could box the words up and put them in the "You are doing OK ~ Just Abide in Me Corner".

And, this morning as I flipped my little calender over, one of my favorite pages, as written above, was for January 20th! In fact I used that page in a post last year :)

I so deeply believe He has each trial as a tool to strengthen us and mold us. While I know that is such a "Christian Answer" to one who is struggling, it is a such the "Christian Experience" from those who are living for Him.

Hang in that furnace ~ Let Him, protect you from the flames, yet, do His work, and, He will heal your wounds as only our Creator can.

And, when you begin to step out of the furnace, you will, oddly enough, find yourself thanking Him for the flames He created and bonds He removed even more than for the protection He provided.

Thanks to His furnace and protection ~ You've come a long way Baby!