#9 The Den of Lions

I woke up this morning with one thought on my mind: how on planet earth am I going to get through this day without blowing it? It’s impossible! It felt like my bosses were out to get me. I refused to simply give in to their demands, but I couldn’t simply get in their faces and shout at them either. I couldn’t back down and I couldn’t step up. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. But I knew I couldn’t simply not go to work, so off I went. 

And as I was driving, something bold struck me. The same God that shielded Daniel in the den of lions was alive and well with me. The idea stuck with me, so I ran with it. “Alright, God. You’re the same God that I can read about in daniel. Please shield me from the lions that surround me.” I hardly felt the need to request it, it felt more like it was going to happen. I would almost compare it to someone telling me I was going to wear sneakers in the summertime. It was like someone told me “Sir Endar, I think you’re going to wear the sneakers instead of the boots today. sneakers suit you.”

And sure enough, the day went as smooth as ever. No conflicts, no run-ins. I had to contend with a comment or two, but nothing that really rustled my feathers. My day truly was shielded from the lions. Evil was still there at the door, but God held it at bay because He knew I was already at my breaking point. I had learned what I needed to learn, and now it was time for some regrouping. 

I don’t think God simply pampers us into the Kingdom. Jesus even said that we would have trials in this life. But when we’re at our breaking point, gasping for air and nearing the end of our rope, He doesn’t leave us hanging there. He isn’t the type to demand from us what He knows we don’t have. And He is most certainly not a God that leaves us defenseless. Just go looking through the bible for references to God’s protection. News flash: they’re everywhere! God wants us to grow, but He wants to keep us safe from threats that will overwhelm us. He wants to protect us from what would kill us. 

But there’s a bit of a nuance to this, because we aren’t talking about our own strength. Daniel didn’t wrestle those lions like some sort of barbarian. Instead, he prayed for deliverance and God shut the mouths of the lions. I think the point being made is that our trials won’t break our connection with God. God won’t allow so much pressure that it snaps the tether you have to Him. He wants to strengthen it, not sever it. 

And that’s our win for the day: the God of Daniel is the God of you and me. He clears the runway for His emergency patient. He protects your steps when they seem too dangerous. This idea may sound like delusion, you might write my story off as mere coincidence. But I’m going to flush those claims all the way down the toilet and embrace the reality that God just granted me refuge from the snarling lions that were about ready to eat me alive! It’s far more exciting to welcome the idea that someone upstairs held back the lions for me. I’d rather believe that the God of the universe cares about me than to believe things simply “happened.” 

And how crazy is that! This God with all this power cares enough to use it to protect lil ol’ me? What the heck is that? I mean, if you had the power to control circumstances and events, would you use it to look after a random schmuck? (I know I would use it to create a bunch of mayhem, so maybe it’s good that I’m not god.) I don’t know if any of us, given that kind of power, would use it to be perfect protectors to a bunch of turds like us. And I’m not saying that out of low self-esteem, I’m simply aware of the divine standard that I couldn’t even dream of meeting. And still He watches our backs, knowing we’ll stab His. 

Insane!

Our God’s love runs so stupid deep that it makes our minds shake from how hard that is to understand. All I can do is say thank you. All I have is a “dang, God is pretty dank!” That’s all I’ve got. But you know what? That’s all He wants. He’s not a narcissist, He’s just looking for our appreciation. He wants us to care about what He’s up to for us. Because He’s up to a lot for us. Oftentimes, we just miss it because we aren’t looking. But I say it’s high time we change that! It’s high time we stop seeing darkness as a beating. No, we should instead see it as a growth opportunity. Instead of asking God “why is this happening?” We should be asking “how do you want to grow me through this?” This subtle shift will make a world of difference as we start to see the love God is trying to send our way. Darkness isn’t a setup to make us feel haunted, it’s a primer for us to see the glorious glow of His rich, unending love for us. 

So how do we carry this with us? How can we capture this for ourselves to store away for darker times? Well, get to reminding yourself that there’s no harm that can come to God’s kids. He’s got you safe and secure no matter what. Everything that goes down is a part of His plan. And His plan is not to destroy you. He wants to use your circumstances to grow you, to strengthen your roots and bring you closer to Him. That’s what it’s all about. So, the next time you feel drained, tapped out, and completely surrounded, grab ahold of this one. Say it out loud, write it down, put a sticky note somewhere! Do whatever you must to remind yourself that the God who protected Daniel from the lions is the same God who is alive and with you wherever you go. Take that wherever you go and you’ll never be the same. Of that, I can promise!

I pray this post finds you well, that you are able to walk through the threats and challenges that life sends you. I pray you walk in rest, knowing full well that your God is your shield, and that He will protect you from being eaten alive. 

Until next time

May Peace be your guide.