On the Verge of a Meltdown

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) ⁶  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

            Have you ever been on the verge of a meltdown?

            Golf fans watched Jordan Spieth have a meltdown on Sunday at the Masters Tournament in Augusta Georgia. The New York Post’s headline read: “Danny Willett takes 2016 Masters after Jordan Spieth’s Meltdown”. Spieth had a 5-shot lead in the final round after having the lead for the entire 4-day tournament. Here’s how the story was reported: “A bogey from the bunker on No. 10. A tee shot into the trees on No. 11 that led to another bogey. Willett made birdie on the 14th to get within one shot. Spieth only needed to get past the dangerous par-3 12th hole to settle himself, especially with two par 5s in front of him. Instead, his tee shot bounced off the slope and into the water. From the drop zone, his wedge was fat and Spieth turned his head. He didn't even look as it plopped into the water again. He made a quadruple-bogey 7. On the 10th tee, Spieth was five shots ahead. On the 13th tee, he was three shots behind.” In this context, the definition of a “meltdown” is “a rapid decline or collapse”. A few weeks ago, the Boston Bruins were cruising toward the playoffs in the NHL. Last week they were eliminated after losing too many of their final nine games. This was considered a meltdown at the end of their season.

            Many parents also know what a meltdown is. Little Johnny is in the grocery store with his mother and informs her that he wants a candy bar. Mommy says no. Johnny won’t take no for an answer. Mommy won’t give in. Johnny starts to scream and falls on the floor rolling around in anger. Mom later tells Grammy on a phone call that “Johnny had a meltdown in Hannaford today.” In this context, a meltdown is “a breakdown or loss of self-control”. The urban dictionary describes it this way: “what happens when a person freaks out, cracks, loses control of themselves. Life - reality at large- becomes overwhelming. They just can't deal with it all. The person may act out, withdraw, become emotional, run, etc...”

            Whether it is a stock market collapse, a team choking in the clutch (losing in a high stress situation), or a person losing their cool or “going ballistic”, meltdowns are rarely enjoyable to watch, and they are even more painful to be a part of. These ideas about meltdowns are derived from the original meaning of the word as it relates to a nuclear power plant disaster. In that scenario a reactor core literally melts from overheating and presents life-threatening danger if not contained (think Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, or the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear disaster in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami).

            In the book of Daniel we learn of a powerful king named Nebuchadnezzar who experienced a meltdown. You could say he lost his “cool” when three young Jewish captives refused to bow down and worship the large statue (of himself) that Nebuchadnezzar had erected. He even gave them a second chance of avoiding the fiery furnace he had built for those who refused to bow down. When they told him they still wouldn’t – that they couldn’t/wouldn’t forsake their God, the one true God – he became so angry that he ordered his furnace to be heated even (seven times) hotter. And then he had them thrown in. The man having a meltdown expected the fire to immediately melt down these stubborn young men. But it didn’t work, because God was with them, protecting them, preserving them from the literal power of fire.

            A God who can keep His faithful servants from a literal meltdown can also keep His servants from any kind of harmful emotional meltdown. Believers in Jesus who find themselves on the verge of a meltdown know and worship the same God that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. The next time it is you on the verge of a meltdown, may your faith rise to the occasion like it did for them. And may you see the awesome deliverance of God like they did.

Daniel 3:12-30 (NIV) ¹²  But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up." ¹³  Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ¹⁴  and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? ¹⁵  Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" ¹⁶  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. ¹⁸  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." ¹⁹  Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual ²⁰  and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. ²¹  So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. ²²  The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, ²³  and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. ²⁴  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, O king." ²⁵  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." ²⁶  Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷  and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that 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. ²⁸  Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹  Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." ³⁰  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

PRAYER:  Father, circumstances often conspire to cause meltdowns in my life. Thank you that you are greater. Help me to trust you and to seek deliverance in you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”