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“The fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men.  The hair of their heads where not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.”    (Daniel 3:27) ESV

A long time ago there was a little girl who walked herself to church. Church was her safe place. She lived in a trailer park.  There wasn’t a lot of money for things.  She heard a lot of yelling when she was home.  She felt unloved and alone. Her needs were often neglected.

Fast forward many years and that girl has grown into a woman. She’s a counselor. Whose been asked to work with children who are living in abusive/neglectful home environments. Seems like a divine calling from God.

That little girl was me.

Imagine my surprise years ago, when my supervisor shared that she wanted me to take “poverty training” classes.

She felt that based on “the way I carried myself, the way I dressed, my education, that I wouldn’t be able to fully relate.”

I thought to myself –

“Lord, they don’t know.  They have no idea how well I can relate to those children.”

When the people looked at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego they would have never known what they had just gone through.  They had been humiliated, traumatized and thrown into a fiery furnace.  Yet, there was no visible evidence of what they had endured.

Isaiah 43:2 also reiterates God’s ability to protect us when we go through difficult situations in life “when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Their obedience brought about deliverance for them.  Not only did Jesus preserve them in the fire but once they were released, they were promoted to higher offices in the Kings’ government. Knowing the danger of unchecked power in leadership- imagine the Godly influence they had for changing their circle of influence.

Dear sister maybe you see yourselves through the eyes of your past trials.  Maybe there was abuse in your past or a divorce or a heart ache that left you feeling inferior.  When we allow the transforming power of the blood of Jesus to change us – we become more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-39).

God doesn’t see us based on our past – He only sees His beautiful child capable of doing great things in His name. He has preserved you for a purpose. What will you do with it?

Lay that pain (and shame) at Jesus’ feet – walk away with the beautiful aroma of grace – no smoke.  Hold your head up and walk like the Princess you are!

“Father remind us that you don’t see our past and neither will others if we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. With you by our side we can not only endure the trial but use it to grow to even greater heights for your Kingdom.”

For His Glory

Laura Holmes (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s Life