The Lion's Den - It's Not so Fun When You're the One in There

One of the most well known stories of the Bible is Daniel in the Lion's Den. I learned it as a little boy going to Sunday school. I always thought this was such a cool story - Daniel got to hang out with a bunch of lions and he didn't even get hurt or anything. What boy wouldn't like a story like that?

I never gave much thought to what it must have really been like for Daniel - a great man of God or not - to be in a den full of hungry man eating lions must have been absolutely horrifying and terrible. Did he ever sit? Did he ever sleep? Or was he in prayer and in peace as all the Sunday School pictures used to show him. I always just kind of figured that Daniel was a cool cucumber because he knew that God would take care of him.

The picture that I would love to see is Daniel sleeping like a baby in the lion's den because he felt so protected.

But a picture like that wouldn't ever fly. Because a picture like that doesn't jive with reality. And the reality is that it sucks to be in a den full of lions!

We've all gone through nights and periods of our lives where it felt like we were trapped in a den full of man-eating lions. And although we knew that God was in control and all the right stuff about how all things work together for the good for those trust in Jesus, those nights and periods in our lives were terrifying and dreadful.

That's the thing about faith isn't it? In hindsight, it's always so simple and easy. Of course that was God speaking. Of course God was leading in that direction.

But in the heat of the lion's den - when your very survival and sanity and peace are at stake - it's nerve wracking and terrifying.

It's not that you don't believe that God will act. It's just that you have no idea how it's all going to work itself out and who have no control over when and how God will act. You're totally at God's mercy for that. And, I don't know about you, but I hate the waiting and not knowing part.

But, that's exactly what faith is. It is trusting and absolutely knowing that God is indeed in control and that God will work all things for the good for those who trust in Him, even in the midst of impossibly difficult situations where everything seems to be lost. That's what faith is. That's when faith is required. If faith was a sure thing, faith would not be necessary.

All that we need to know when we're going through periods of time with the lions is that God is leading and God is in control. And as long as you're holding onto His hand, you're going to end up right where you want to be - in God's presence.

So friends in the lion's den, don't lose hope. Have a great day because God is in control. Just remember to never let go of His hand.