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Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood true to their conviction to follow God even when it wasn’t the popular or safe thing to do and they ended up in a furnace. 

Although they were willing to give up their lives in order to follow God, what happened next shocked everyone. God appeared with the guys in the furnace and protected them! God showed that he was present with them in the midst of their pain.   

As you follow Jesus, you will face hardships. It comes with the territory. You can have hope knowing that God is with you in those times. Jesus told his early followers, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Paul wrote, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Have you ever experienced hard times as a result of following Jesus? How did you handle it?

When those times come, be reminded that God is with you, even in the midst of your pain.