Lately, I’ve been thinking about the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

If you aren’t familiar with their story, here’s a brief recap:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were young Jewish men living in Babylon who refused to bow down to a massive golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar demanded everyone worship. Choosing obedience to God over obedience to the king, they were thrown into a blazing furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. Yet, instead of perishing, they emerged completely unharmed, without even a hair on their head singed. A fourth divine figure stood with them in the fire. Witnessing this miracle, the king praised their God and promoted the men. Their story, found in the book of Daniel, is a powerful testament to unwavering faith and God’s miraculous power.

What keeps replaying in my mind is this: the fire did not faze them.

Being in the fire has a way of wearing us down. It leaves us tired, discouraged, and mentally exhausted. It convinces us that this season will never end, that relief will never come. But every season has an expiration date. Every fire eventually burns out, and every difficult season transitions into the next.

Scripture reminds us not to grow weary in the battle. Why? Because this season will end, and when it does, you must be ready to step out of the fire and into what God has prepared next. Your perspective matters more than you realize. Your outlook can be the very thing that catapults you from the fire to the fountain.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t suddenly find faith once the flames surrounded them. They had already positioned themselves for victory before they were thrown into the fire. They knew God was able to deliver them, and even if He didn’t, they still would not bow. They didn’t waver. They didn’t spiral into “what ifs.” They didn’t complain about the unfairness of their situation. They stood firm, fully trusting that God would come through.

Now, let’s be honest, how often do we grumble over the smallest inconveniences? How often do we begin speaking defeat over our situations before God even has the opportunity to show His power?

The enemy may bring battles our way, but sometimes we hand him the match ourselves. We speak fear. We speak doubt. We speak hopelessness, making the fire feel seven times hotter than it ever needed to be. I know I catch myself doing this daily. My mind can default to worst-case scenarios, and negativity can flow far too easily from my lips. And the truth is, many of our battles become heavier not because of what we’re facing, but because of how we’re thinking and what we’re speaking.

The Bible tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue.

So why don’t we speak life more often? Why don’t we declare victory before we ever see it?

My pastor always challenges us to pray about a word for the year before the new year begins. As I have been praying, God gave me the word Victory. But as I have meditated on this word, I don’t believe it’s just for me. Someone else needs to be reminded that victory is ours and it’s time for us to position ourselves for the victory to come.

When we fully submit our lives to God and surrender our need for control, victory follows every time. But when we allow weariness to overtake us, when we let our minds be defeated and our words speak death, we begin walking in defeat instead of the victory God has already made available to us.

God never intended for the fire to consume you. He intends for it to refine you and then lead you to the fountain.

For with You is the fountain of life;in Your light we see light. Psalm 36:9

In the days ahead, slow down and intentionally seek God’s presence. Allow Him to shape your heart and guide your steps into the new year. Speak life over yourself, your family, and every situation you face. When the fire tries to steal your focus, turn your eyes back to God, who has the power to take you from the fire to the fountain. This will be a year marked by victory.

And I’m glad you’re here!