Though; 1 Peter 1:3-9

Of all the words of faith and devotion in the Bible, I find myself reflecting on three spoken by Daniel's friends before the fiery furnace.

"But if not."

When faced with the choice of either bowing down and worshiping idols of gold or submitting their lives to the fire, these men spoke with conviction about the power of God and faith in his ability to save them. In Daniel 3:17, they declare, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning firey furnace."

In the next verse, though, they follow up their confidence with the words, "but if not." But if he doesn't save us, but if we burn in the furnace, but if our lives are taken from us, "we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

I hear something I need in that statement. I need a "but if not" kind of faith. I know God can heal, but if not, I will still worship him. I'm confident in God's ability to answer my prayers, but if not, I am still his.

Today, a week out from Easter, we need to hear the call to a "but if not" kind of faith. We'll go to 1 Peter and find a faith that lives despite the reality of our griefs, troubles, and lack of sight. We need this kind of faith.