Take comfort in this thought, tried believer: God says, "I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction." Don't those words fall like gentle rain on the raging flames? Yes, they are asbestos armor that no heat can penetrate!

Let affliction come—God has chosen me. Poverty, you may stride in at my door, but God is in the house already, and he has chosen me. Sickness, you may intrude, but I have a balm ready—God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know that he has chosen me.

But if you need even greater comfort, believer, remember this: you have the Son of Man with you in the furnace. Right there in your silent chamber, someone sits beside you. You cannot see him, but you love him. And often, when you don't even realize it, he makes all your bed in your affliction, smooths your pillow for you.

You may be in poverty, but in that lowly house of yours, the Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor. He loves to come to these desolate places just to visit you. Your friend sticks closely to you. You cannot see him, but can't you feel the pressure of his hands? Don't you hear his voice? Even in the valley of the shadow of death he declares, "Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God."

Remember Caesar's noble speech to the terrified sailor: "Fear not, you carry Caesar and all his fortune." Fear not, Christian! Jesus is with you. In all your fiery trials, his presence is both your comfort and safety. He will never leave one he has chosen for his own.

"Fear not, for I am with you." This is his sure word of promise to his chosen ones in the furnace of affliction.

Will you not, then, take fast hold of Christ and say: "Through floods and flames, if Jesus leads, I'll follow where he goes"?