So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 

Daniel 6:16-17

Daniel’s God is our God. Daniel’s savior is our savior. The Word of God spoken to Daniel is the same Word of God spoken to us. We adhered to the same laws Daniel obeyed. And like Daniel, we live in troubled times. People are two-faced, insincere, and cruel. We are put in dangerous situations, urged to sin, and surrounded by wickedness. We can trust nobody. How did Daniel survive such times? How did Daniel overcome obstacles? How did he enjoy peace when his surroundings were so chaotic? Daniel did three things. Let’s try to follow in his footsteps.

One. 

Daniel never did anything for himself. He never pursued a course of action that in the end, provided personal benefit and gain. Whether thrown into the lion’s den or persecuted for his faith, Daniel never worried about what would happen to himself or his future. How many of us can confidently say we are not consumed with ourselves? We claim to be Christians, but every word uttered from our mouths and every action we do benefit ourselves and our interests. God created us to serve God, others, and creation. Instead, we discard these three things and serve ourselves. We are on this planet to serve God! We are on this planet to serve others and all of creation! We are not here to pay homage to ourselves and all our needs! So the first thing we can learn from Daniel is his world perspective and his place in it.

Two. 

Daniel entrusted his life to a holy God. Am I going to eat or starve? Am I going to be rich or poor? Am I going to live or die? Daniel didn’t give these questions a second thought. He entrusted God with every aspect of his life, consigning his spirit, mind, and body to God. He knew God was omnipotent and omniscient; He believed God knew what was best for him and would not make mistakes. Even in the direst and most pressing circumstances, Daniel didn’t become consumed with himself and how things would affect him. Instead, he thought, “I will put it in God’s hands. He will lead me down the right and best path.” When confronted with a crisis, we focus on the crisis and stew over a way out, but Daniel entrusted God with everything!

Three. 

Daniel believed in the power of His Word and His almighty power. Daniel knew a great power rested inside His Word, and He dedicated his life to connecting to this power and never letting the Word leave his side. He knew abandoning the Word of God removed Him from God’s protective shelter. Abandoning the Word detached him from God’s power. Even when thrown in the lion’s den and facing death, Daniel was not afraid because he knew if he remained connected to the Word of God, God would protect and help him.

We live in evil and turbulent times. Are you surrounded by hostility? Are you being pressured to turn your back on God and faith? When we’re thrown into our own versions of the lions’ den, do as Daniel did. Serve God. Entrust God with everything. Believe in His word and power. If we do these three things, God saves us from the lions’ den and sets us high above all nations.