“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said … let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods” (Daniel 3:16-18)  

Throughout Jewish and Christian history, these three men have rightly been used as an example of how saints are to deal with the ultimate challenge to their faith in God. Most of the time, God doesn’t use a miracle, but gives saints wisdom to be upright in business and marriage, and not “jump ship” when trials come. That being said, it’s better to lose everything, rather than compromise with evil, and when all else is gone, hold fast to a clear conscience. Don’t be guided by what’s easy and popular and safe, but by what God says in His word. 

 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). The Greek word translated “bear” is hupophero, which means “to bear from underneath”. For the Christian, this means “to bear from underneath the Lordship of Christ”. 

 When you can see no way to resolve a problem with integrity, ask God for wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him … But let him ask in faith, with no doubting” (James 1:5-6). If help doesn’t come the way you hope, don’t give up …look for ways you can resolve the problem with integrity. Nine times out of ten, God will give you wisdom to come through the crises with integrity, and not give you a way to “jump ship”. This is the “patience” process, the way God conforms you to the image of Christ. 

 The Greek word translated “patience” is hupomeno, which means “stay under”, which for the Christian means “stay under the Lordship of Christ”. “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-5). 

So ask God for wisdom and stay under the Lordship of Christ, expecting Him to make a way through the trial with integrity, not out of it.