We all want to be spared from suffering. We would rather not have to go through extremely difficult hardships such as: illness, injury, economic woes, loss of a loved one, etc.

However, that’s not how things happen. Sometimes God saves us from such disasters; at other times he saves us through them.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not saved from the fire, they were saved in it. Daniel was not saved from the lion’s den, he was saved in it. Joseph (in the Old Testament) was not saved from prison, he was saved in it. Jesus was not spared death on the cross, but he was protected by God—even through death.

Let’s try to remember that our Shepherd is always with us, even as we are travelling through the valley of the shadow of death. Let’s rejoice in the salvation he brings about for us, no matter how it takes place.

“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed…”—1 Peter 3:14.