How He got there we do not know. But, there was a fourth figure walking in the midst of the fiery furnace along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. His appearance, as described by Nebuchadnezzar, was “like the son of the gods!” (Dan. 3:25). Charles Spurgeon observed that “as sure as…God puts his children in the furnace He will be in the furnace with them.” We are never alone.
Loneliness intensifies pain in suffering while the support of friends and loved ones lightens the load. A timely note, a visit, or a phone call can make all the difference to someone in physical or emotional pain. We are social beings who need companionship. Following the creation of Adam, God assessed the situation and observed, “It is not good for the man to be alone…” (Gen 2:18). Things have not changed. God’s family, the church, is designed to meet one another’s needs. Paul says, “Bear on another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). We are in this together.
But there is a greater Comforter, God Himself, who says, “‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we may confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?’” (Heb. 13:5-6). In the words of a well-known song, we pray, “When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, help of the helpless, O abide with me!” We are never alone. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psa. 46:1).
When we feel weak in our struggle against heartache and discouragement, there is One who is walking with us in the midst of the fire. His name is Jesus. His devotion is unquestioned and His love incomprehensible (Eph. 3:19). We are never alone.
–Glen Elliott–