Today, I cried at a story I already knew.
I sat in the Sight and Sound Theaters in Lancaster, PA, watching the story of Daniel come to life with beautiful costumes, ginormous sets, and live animals. As the curtains opened, King Nebuchadnezzar lay in bed, tormented by a dream.
Tonight, I lay awake at 11 pm, well past my bedtime, with worries threatening to steal my peace. I worry about getting into a car accident, my toddler melting down in public, or my husband having more health issues. After my husband got appendicitis, thoughts of him landing in the hospital again haunt me after a scary ER visit. Just like Nebuchadnezzar, I have a choice: try to deal with it by myself or step out in faith and ask for help.
So I climb out of bed and go to the living room to relax on my grandparents’ old red recliner—the one that expands as soon as you sit on it. And I think of the play I saw today and the lessons I learned. A true story about Daniel, an exile from Jerusalem who faithfully served King Nebuchadnezzar and other Babylonian rulers for decades.
When I think of expanding my faith, I think of Daniel and his incredible legacy. Although he lived millenia before me, his life is a powerful example for us today. But how was his faith so powerful? Several principles stick out to me:
- Friendship
First, Daniel didn’t go into exile alone; he went with thousands of other Jews. Perhaps he was haunted by dreams and fears of living in a new land, surrounded by new religions, and various kingdom expectations. Yet the Bible records three close friends who stuck by his side: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These men went through name changes, diet changes, and academic training for three years (Daniel 1:4-5). But in Babylon, they had new names; they were called Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Although the Babylonians gave them new names, they remained faithful to their God, the God of Israel. These four men agreed to pursue godliness in a broken kingdom. Instead of compromising and going with the flow, they held tight to each other and their faith.
Try to put yourself in Daniel’s shoes. You are in the city of Babylon, surrounded by idol worship and false gods. Memories of family and friends come to your mind, but you are saddened. What can we learn from his example? Can we cultivate godly friendships that strengthen faith in God instead of ourselves? Can we pursue prayer, even when situations feel impossible, and everyone else is bowing to another God? Even if everyone else is worshiping false gods, can we have faith that God has a hope and a future for us, plans to prosper, and not to harm us? (Jeremiah 29:11). Whether in Babylon, Jerusalem, or our hometown, God still has a plan for us, even if our faith wavers.
What about us? Do we choose godly friends who will encourage us in discouraging situations? Daniel’s friendships strengthened his faith in a new land. In the face of persecution, his friends stayed loyal to the one true God instead of bowing to an earthly king.
Their faith was tested by a fiery furnace, but they still stayed faithful to God and trusted in his power regardless of the outcome.
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’”
Daniel 3:16-18
His friends trusted in God’s character, and were faithful to God despite potential consequences. What about us? Do our friendships strengthen our faith in God’s power?
2. Prayer
Although Nebuchadnezzar saw the power of God in the fiery furnace and the faith of Daniel’s friends, a new king appeared, declaring that no one could pray. However, Daniel kept praying and thanking God three times a day, despite the King’s decree:
“When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”
Daniel 6:10
Do we have a consistent prayer life? When change comes our way, are we quick to complain or run to God in praise and petition? When kingdoms and rulers change, do we trust our heavenly king? Do we praise the one who promised an everlasting kingdom while we live in this fleeting kingdom? Even when times are hard, prayer strengthens our faith and grows our relationship with God.
We all have hearts prone to wander and leave the God we love. We all have fallen short of the glory of God, but God offers a way to be a part of his kingdom. One day, he will come back and make all things right. We still have troubles in the here and now, but he promises to prepare a place for us (John 14:3). Do we have faith in his promises and character? Do we praise him in the good times and the bad? Let’s lean on godly friendships and prayer to strengthen our faith when life is tough. When we can’t sleep at night and worries flood our mind, let’s use our struggles as an opportunity to grow our faith in the God of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego.
Reflection & Application
- Do you make intentional choices about your friendships?
- Do your friends grow your faith or discourage it?
- How can you be an encouraging friend to others along this road of faith?
- Are you regularly spending time in prayer?
- Based on the example of Daniel, do you need to make any changes to your friendships or prayer life?
- Read through the book of Daniel and mark instances of faith; what do you notice?
Photo Credit:
Grace Thomas is a Christ-follower, wife, and mother. When she’s not playing with her son, she serves at her church, and enjoys living in sunny California. Her writing has been featured on Risen Motherhood & Momma Theologian. You can connect with her on her blog, Instagram, or email.
1 comment
I was blessed by this