There is a set of questions that never really goes away.
Why this miracle
and not that one?
Why this healing
and not that hospital room?
Why does God step in—
and sometimes… not?
And if we’re honest, beneath the theology and the polite language, there are sharper questions hiding underneath it all:
Why does He help others but not me?
Does He care? (Like I do?)
Did God just spin the wheel today to see who He would help?
Or worse—
is there something I’ve done that prevents Him from rescuing me?
Did I lack faith?
Did I pray incorrectly?
Are my sins stopping His movement in my life?
So what do we do with the people who burned?
The martyrs.
The sick who weren’t healed.
The faithful who died anyway.
Why didn’t God save them like He rescued others?
That question has haunted people for centuries.
Daniel 3/ Hebrews 11
“But if not…”
Those three words change everything.
“Our God can save us…
but if not…”
They believed in rescue.
They just didn’t require it.
Their faith had no conditions.
No fine print.
No escape clause.
And that kind of faith
still echoes in Hebrews 11.
Some were rescued.
Some were healed.
Some escaped the sword.
Others didn’t.
Others were mocked.
Beaten.
Imprisoned.
Killed.
And the writer says something shocking about those who were not rescued:
“The world was not worthy of them.”
Not because they won—because they didn’t.
Not because they escaped—because they didn’t.
But because they didn’t sell out.
There is faith that gets rescued.
And there is faith that stays faithful when the rescue doesn’t come.
Same faith.
Same value.
Faith that is rescued isn’t superior.
Faith that suffers isn’t inferior.
And honestly, I’m still not sure which one is stronger.
But here’s what I do know—both are saying the same thing:
“My faith is not for sale.”
Because the moment you say,
“I’ll trust God as long as…”
you’ve just named your price.
And if the world can afford you,
then the world is worthy of you.
And that’s a really low bar.
But if not—
If the healing doesn’t come.
If the answer doesn’t change.
If the fire stays hot.
And you still won’t bow.
Then you are showing the world
it is not worthy of someone like you.
You are not for sale.
And sometimes,
that kind of faith
ends up changing kings.
Even if it never changes circumstances.
phillipbrande.com 