“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’” – Daniel 3:16-18
“…to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part…” Were these vows part of your wedding? And, more importantly, have you had to truly live them out?
Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who faced the ultimate test of their commitment to God, we are also called to stay faithful in our commitment to our spouse, even through life’s greatest challenges.
Personally, Tammy and I have walked through many trials together, and we often find ourselves supporting other couples through their own difficult seasons. The circumstance that most stands out is where sickness has impacted a marriage profoundly. One spouse struggles to make it through each day physically, while the other gradually takes on the role of primary caregiver. Our love and respect for them run deep. Watching them live out their covenant to one another in these moments reminds us powerfully of God’s unwavering faithfulness to us.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s courage and trust in God remind us that true commitment doesn’t waver based on circumstances. Like their trust in God, marriage is a covenant that calls for our reliance on God’s strength and faithfulness to us.
God’s promise of rescue and redemption may not always unfold the way we expect. He may deliver us from the fire of trials, or He may stand with us in the midst of it. Either way, His faithfulness reminds us that we have the capacity to remain faithful—to the promise we’ve made to our spouse and to the One who brought us together.
