Former Blackout Artist

And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Daniel 1:21

I was reading the story of Daniel in the Old Testament last evening, and a verse from the New Testament came to life for me.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.“
Romans 12:2

We read early on in chapter 1, “Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food.” That decision seems to set the trajectory for the rest of his life, doesn’t it? Because decades later, in chapter 6, we find that he’s still praying openly to God like he always has, even when it could mean death in a lions’ den.

Now that is what you call consistency.

What’s equally compelling is that his circumstances never really get “easy.” He serves under pagan kings, he’s constantly dealing with political danger, and lives his entire life in a culture that opposes his identity. He’s exiled under King Nebuchadnezzar, and he’s still there when Cyrus the Great becomes king. That’s not a historical timestamp as much as it’s a remarkable statement of faithful endurance! And during that time:

No record of him returning to Judah.
No mention of a wife or family.
No bitterness or complaining about what he lost.

Daniel didn’t need his circumstances to change to remain faithful. What about you and me? Can we honestly say that? Just yesterday I was complaining, yet again, about the cost of gasoline. And I did so knowing that it wouldn’t be this expensive forever.

So what happens to our faith when life doesn’t go the way we expected – and doesn’t change back? How might we respond if everything familiar was suddenly stripped away from us?

Anyway… it’s good for us to think about these things from time to time. That’s all for now.

Enjoy your weekend!