“Where You Are” by Rich Mullins

Talkin’ Daniel in the den of the lions
Talkin’ Jonah in the belly of a whale
Talkin’ three Hebrew children
And they’re standing in a furnace, fiery furnace

But the fire didn’t burn them, and the lions didn’t bite
And the Lord reached down and you can be sure that
Everything turned out right
Oh you’ll meet the Lord in the furnace
A long time before you meet Him in the sky

And where you are ain’t where you wish that you was
Well your life ain’t easy and the road is rough
But where you are is where He promised to be
From the ends of the world to every point of need

Talkin’ Daniel in the den of the lions
Talkin’ Jonah in the belly of a whale
Talkin’ three Hebrew children
And they’re standing in a furnace, fiery furnace

But the fire didn’t burn them, and the lions didn’t bite
And the Lord reached down and you can be sure that
Everything turned out right
Oh you’ll meet the Lord in the furnace
A long time before you meet Him in the sky

Meet Him in your time of trial
Meet Him in your hour of prayer
You can reach out and I’ll bet
That you’ll find that He’s right there

Where you are, however grim it may seem
This is real life, baby
This ain’t no Hollywood dream
And where you are no matter what you may face
You’re gonna find out real soon what they mean when they say

Talkin’ Daniel in the den of the lions
Talkin’ Jonah in the belly of a whale
Talkin’ three Hebrew children
And they’re standing in a furnace, fiery furnace

But the fire didn’t burn them, and the lions didn’t bite
And the Lord reached down and you can be sure that
Everything turned out right

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: David Strasser / Richard Mullins

Dear God, I’m teaching a Sunday school class about Naomi tomorrow and I’ve been thinking a bit about her and Ruth all week. For whatever reason, this is the song that was going in my head this morning when I woke up, and I think it fits with their lives and even my life today. Of course it fits with my life today.

I haven’t heard this song in years (it’s about 30 years old), but I know the words almost by heart. As I was singing it to myself, this one line struck me:

Oh, you’ll meet the Lord in the furnace a long time before you meet him in the sky

I’m not sure it’s possible (outside of a small baby or child) to meet you in the sky before we’ve met you in the furnace. It’s the furnace that tempers our steel. It’s the furnace that removes the dross. It’s the furnace that refines. Metaphorically, Rich was referring to the three Hebrew exiles who were thrown into the furnace for worshipping you instead of the king in Daniel, but the furnace imagery actually lends itself to great effect in other areas of my life.

I was listening to Chuck Swindoll talk about the book of Ruth this morning, and he said (paraphrasing) the underlying message of Ruth is that in our worst times, [you are] present. You are present. You aren’t necessarily fixing everything the way I want it, but you’re present. You’re loving me. You’re teaching me that there are things going on that I cannot, and my never, see. You are teaching me to trust you beyond what it benefits or harms me and the life I have now.

My wife and I were talking this morning over breakfast about how you have used each other and our children to grind off some of the rough spots of who we are. You aren’t done with me yet. I still have plenty of rough spots. But that’s something that a single person or a person with no children will have to find somewhere else–a source for friction to grind down our pride and selfishness. Our arrogance and foolishness. You designed marriage and parenting to make me holy more than to make me happy (I’m looking at you, Gary Thomas).

Holy Spirit, Father God, please help me today. Help me to love my wife. Help me to love my friend who’s coming for a bike ride. Help me to love my children. Help me to love my parents. Help me to love my siblings, nieces and nephews. I include in all of those the significant others of each one as well. Help me to prepare for this Sunday school message tomorrow. Glorify your name in that room tomorrow. Offer your hope. Offer your peace.

In Jesus’s name, through his life, death and resurrection, I pray,

Amen