A sermon that I heard over the week end seems appropriate to this situation.
The story of Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego- in short, they faced a King who did not allow them to worship the one true God. They decided to follow and worship God anyway and face whatever consequences may come. Eventually they were thrown into the fire, to be burned alive. They did not pray for God to keep this from happening, or even to deliver them from it, they praised God and accepted their circumstance.Through their faith and obviously God totally protecting them in the fire, the King acknowledged that their God must be the one true God and allowed them and all in the city to worship Him.
Many times, we may wonder why God allows the fire, or trial or circumstance. Why does He not just put an end to it with His power? Such as in this case with Gilyard, why has he been allowed to continue to hurt. We may not know what God is doing or what the outcome may be. But we are called to worship and praise Him even in the midst of the fire. Through this worship, He is allowed to really work and inhabit the praise of His people.
Just a reminder to all of us not to forget who is truly in charge and whose name will be glorified even in the midst of this trial. No matter how long it may take.
Isaiah 58:6 "...to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke."
