Daniel in the Lion's Dean of Fear

​I have a question for you all this week, a question God posed to me recently: how long do you think Daniel was afraid in the lion’s den?
 
We all know the story from picture books, or maybe a Sunday sermon, but Daniel, the righteous aid to the King Darius and servant of God, refused to stop praying three times a day and ended up entangled in a trap set for him by wicked people. Daniel decided to keep praying despite the king’s edict and ended up on the floor of a dark lion’s den. 
 
So walk with me for a moment and picture yourself as Daniel, and you've just been flung into a deep dark pit. You hit the ground with a thud, probably bruise a few ribs, if not worse, and then you wait. The lions haven't yet started tearing your flesh apart, so maybe you have a few more minutes to live. What do you do? 
 
If I'm Daniel, I would probably not move, try not to even take a breath, and pray that the lions can't smell the fear dripping off of me. Maybe as your eyes adjust to the darkness, you look for a place to hide, but any movement might trigger the beasts to dive on their prey.
 
At what point during that very long night do you stop anticipating being mauled to death at any moment, and start realizing that God's shut the mouth of the lions? Do you wait until the morning light is breaking through and you hear the king’s voice, or do you start to realize God's given you victory long before you’re even flung into the pit?
 
That's been my battle these last few months. Though I feel healthy, every time I visit the doctor's I hear negative news that lands me on the floor of the lion's den, anticipating the worst instead of anticipating hearing the kings voice in the morning. 
 
The funny thing about this place is that you can only anticipate one thing at one time. It's impossible to envision your rescue and your death during that same long night, you can have faith or fear. One will bring you peace, one might just do you in from a heart attack of the lions don't get you first. 
 
But Jesus asked, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”
 
When the negative thoughts start to spiral and I begin to worry, I’m so thankful to have wonderful friends and family who are praying for me, letting me borrow their faith, and pulling me up out of the lion’s den, and most thankful to have the King of all Kings on this journey with me!
 
Have an amazing week, friends! And, don’t let your faith be darkened by things you see, trust in the unseen.