Even If Not…

Posted on April 24, 2018 by America's Keswick in Victory Call

The other day I was browsing through my Instagram feed and I saw this shirt that I instantly knew I wanted to buy. It’s a mint green V-Neck and plastered across the front it says: “Even if not, God is still good.” (This is a paraphrase of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego telling the king that the Lord would save them from the fiery furnace. “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 3:18).

Wow. Because they truly understood the goodness of the Lord, they refused to bow down to any idol. When we’re looking at biblical characters who were “on fire for God” (no pun intended) we have to look at these three men. Of course they surely desired to be saved from the furnace, and they had such faith that they would, but they were also content in saying, “Even if not, God is still good.”

Now let’s look on this with a lesser scale, something that can be more easily applied today. Those three men of course wanted to escape death, but they were completely content in whatever the Lord would choose to do. Are we just as content? I’m not talking about being content with becoming a human martyr, per se, but are we content enough to be able to look life in the eye and say, “even if not, God is still good?” What about when it comes to things we think we “need”? Are we able to take a step back and look at things from a godly perspective instead of a human one?

I think that, because of the battle with the flesh, it’s human nature be hardly content and heartily pursuing “more” or “the next thing.” There are certain things in our lives that we feel we need: “I need a bigger house, I need more money, I need a husband, I need a new phone, I need new clothes!” Humans can be quite needy and quite materialistic, and speaking personally, I know I fall into that category more times than I’d like to admit.

How do we respond when these so-called “needs” aren’t met? When we don’t get more money, when we don’t get a bigger house, when we don’t get what we desire, how do we react? Is our response an angry, frustrated, discontent one – one where we respond based on our emotions – or do we acknowledge our desires and then follow with “But even if not, God is still good?”

Here’s the truth – humans often confuse the words “want” and “need.” My mentor reminded me of this yesterday, and it’s so true: if we really needed what we think we do, God would or will supply it.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19)

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Ro. 8:32)

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” – Matthew 6:25-27

There are many things we wish for, some things we think we “need”… but the truth is that Jesus is truly all we need, Amen?!

Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She loves encouraging women through her Victory Calls and finds such joy in praying for her sisters in Christ. Her favorite activities include reading her Bible, encouraging others with scripture, buying new makeup, buying dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!