Faith Even When God Says “Not Yet”

Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.  

Reading: Daniel 3

Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.  
After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you highlighted in the passage and what is going on in your life.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego give us a powerful picture of mature faith: they knew God could deliver them, believed He would if He chose to, and were determined to trust Him even if He did not. This is an important tension when we pray for healing, miracles, or supernatural intervention. We can ask boldly without demanding that God prove Himself by giving us the outcome we want. Our faith ultimately rests not in receiving the answer we requested but in knowing the God to whom we prayed. We can have proven faith—“I know God can,” hopeful faith—“I believe God will,” and relational faith—“I trust God even if He doesn’t.”

What outcome are you struggling to release to God, and what would it look like to trust Him even if He does not answer in the way you hope?
        
Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer…  

1. Begin your time in prayer by taking 1-3 minutes to sit in silence (You can take longer if you sense the Spirit already beginning to speak to you).  
2. Pray through the things you sensed God speaking to you through the Scriptures or pray the following prayer: Father, we know You can, and we hope that You will. But even when You do not answer as we ask, help us trust You because of who You are. Give us relational faith that remains anchored in Your character rather than in the outcome we desire. Amen.
   
3. Close by taking 5 minutes to sit in silence, asking God if there is anything else He wants to speak to you today.  

Faith Step:
Name one unanswered prayer you have been carrying and consciously surrender the outcome to God while continuing to pray with faith.