Britta Lafont

Britta Lafont

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August 2, 2013 · 3 Comments

Walking into the Fire

From the Pages of My Journal

Image credit: denisovd / 123RF Stock Photo

Image credit: denisovd / 123RF Stock Photo

...Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:1-3, ESV).

Sometimes other people can make our lives hard.  Sometimes we just want to run.  Or hide.  Growing up in a military family, we had the routine of moving on, every few years.  It was hard to uproot and go…for some…but not for me.  I thought each new place had the possibility of being better than the last!  In fact, when times got hard at school, or with friends, I would just wish and wish that we were moving already, on to “the next place”.

This way of thinking became my escape plan.  When people stepped on me, manipulated me, or intimidated me…I would think, I am done with them.  In my mind, I would put them in the untrustworthy, or mean, or harsh category.  In my mind, I would move on.  I didn’t know how to face the pain.

Have you been rejected? Or maybe you’re hurt because you’ve been let down, or betrayed?  A few years ago, I was co-leading a Bible study.  When the two of us in leadership disagreed on how to choose the next book, Christian women began to look a lot like the world.  As this process unfolded, I found myself under direct attack; and all that the rest of the group did was sit there and stare, eyes wide in astonishment at the spectacle.  I was maligned and verbally browbeaten.  I guess you could say I was bullied.  At Church.  It was excruciating and terribly lonely.

I would have run away, literally!  I had learned how to do that “shaking the dust off my feet” thing really, really well (Luke 9:5).  But as I prayed, the Lord seemed to be telling me to stay in the group and to accept this treatment in silence.  At home, I grieved and cried and prayed to Him.  And I felt the Lord telling me to stay there, more, in that hard place.  I thought: Lord, You know I can’t do this…You know this hits me, right in my wounded heart…how could You ask me to stay in such a hard place?  But He still did not release me.  Emotionally, I curled up in the fetal position. But I went to class and sat in church with her, sometimes with tears streaming down my face.  And I learned how to stay.

I have had other painful lessons like this…some with people closer to me, who have hurt me much more deeply.  And I have learned how to stay.  It has taught me how God stays.  Emotionally difficult times are not comparable to physical torture, but they are painful and the lessons do stick.

The story of Shadrach, MeShech and Abednego, from Daniel 3 has always been special to me.  These three young men found themselves in quite a bit of trouble because they would not bow their knee before an idol; they were sentenced to be burned alive.

  1. Just before they were cast into the furnace, the young men told the king, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Dan 3:17-18).  Their obedience to God was unconditional and they didn’t flinch.
  2. They entered the fire on their own, but they did not endure it alone. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers,“Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”  They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”  He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods” (Dan 3:24-25).   Here is a promise for us ‘“ if God’s plan for us includes walking into the fire, we will not be alone.
  3. If we stand with Him, we will be protected.  When they came out of the furnace, everyone was amazed.  The fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them (Dan 3:27).

There is hope for all of us in this Truth: God has sought us out, to be in relationship with us.  So when we find ourselves walking into the fire, it is good to remember that He is faithful, He stays.  In faithfulness, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with us, saying, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).  God Himself is with us, so we can take comfort in His presence, and we can stay in hard places.

Are you in a hard place today?  Please add a comment here, so I can pray for you.  Or can you share in the comments about a time when you felt God’s presence  during a hard time?  It would be a great encouragement to hear about that!

Hugs!

Britta ~ I am justAgirl…just like you!

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Comments

  1. Courtney says

    August 3, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    Thank you Britta for you kind words and the devotions. God bless! Until Monday….

    Reply
  2. Courtney says

    August 2, 2013 at 1:27 pm

    Hi Britta! I really needed this post today! As I stated earlier this week, I’m in a transition period. 10 months ago my husband and I moved over 500 miles from family and friends. I gave up a great job for his great job. I have not found work and its hurt our household. It was to the point we had to sell one of our vehicles. So, I’m stuck at home everyday with my sweet puppy. In January I felt like such a failure because I applied over 100 place and only landed 2 interviews, which did not yield a job. I lost my faith and tried to commit suicide. I stayed in a psychiatric hospital for 10 days. I was embarrassed to share that, but it actually turned out to be a blessing. I found God where I left Him! I made a promise when I got out the hospital to put all my trust in Him and knows He has plans for my life. After that incident, I started experiencing pain in my ovaries. I’ve dealt with endometriosis for 10 years. This time the doctor recommended a hysterectomy, which I had in June. I guess not working served to be good, because I’ve had time to recover. I’m just 30 and only been married 18 months. And we do not have any children. In this time I’ve also lost several family members to tragic accidents, cancer, and suicide. I feel guilty that I can’t just hop in the car to go home as often as I like. It’s a 10 hour drive, we only have one vehicle, and funds are limited. I also feel guilty that I am not contributing to the household. My husband constantly tells me that its his job to provide and he’s failed me. We are just some sad people! I know God will work it out, but this in between time in getting me down…

    Reply
    • Britta says

      August 2, 2013 at 3:27 pm

      Oh my dear! It is hard to wait on God’s timing. But whether we know it or not we are all at His Mercy daily. In the “good times” we forget that everything here is temporary. I am not in the position to give much advice…your situation is very different than mine…but I would want to just encourage you that God has a purpose for you and for your life. That purpose is never “off track” because He is able to use everything in our lives to teach us and grow us.

      As we walk with Him, especially through hard times, we come to know Him…this is why we were created – to know Him and make Him known to others. This time of quiet in your life is a time to study Him and His Word, as I know you are doing. You never know how He will use these lessons you are experiencing – your experiences are your spiritual resume…they can prepare you for your next assignment! The difficulties you approach with a teachable heart will become treasured memories to you, because they will make you will grow. The things you fight with God about can turn into treasure too, if you can grow from them. I pray that you will begin to look at this season of waiting as fulfilling an important purpose.

      There are things that you can learn now, that you have never been able to know before. Maybe your husband feels he has failed you because he grieves that he cannot fix everything for you – men like to do that! But remind him that only God can fully meet your emotional and spiritual needs…your husband can trust that God is able to do that. The message we get from the world is that we should be able to figure these things out for ourselves and that we should be able to give others what they need – these messages are lies because the Truth is that only God can being us peace and only God can fill our emptiness. Thank you for keeping me updated – I am praying for you! Here are some older posts that you might appreciate. Have a weekend filled with the knowledge that when we seek God, we have done what is worthy in His sight. 🙂

      https://brittalafont.com/2013/02/the-family-workshop-our-primary-purpose/
      https://brittalafont.com/2013/05/family-wisdom-proverbs-35-6/

      Reply

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We are so thankful for this young man. ❤️ We are so thankful for this young man. ❤️
When the first day of school is also the day your When the first day of school is also the day your firstborn drives herself to college, it’s a lot. We moved her stuff into her dorm last week. Today she got up early to say goodbye to Dad (too early! Not pictured 😂), her brother, her doggo, her piano, and her momma. Before she left, she made blueberry scones to share with her little bro @sjoshlafont —they homeschool and relocated together, went to @westminsteroakmtn together, and have shared a love of music, Legos, superheroes (and villains), Transformers, and so much more. She played my favorite song. She even made banana bread to bring to her new roomie. @graciethenerd You are my little nut brown hare, and I love you to the moon and back. Auburn University is a better place because you are there! ❤️
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