God Wants My Complete Trust (Part 2)

In Daniel 6, the prophet Daniel is helping us answer the following question, "How far an I trust God with my life?"  He is not answering this question on a game show or in a debate, but rather in his every day life.  Daniel is facing certain death because of his complete trust in God.  Laws have been voted and passed, and decrees have been issued to stop Daniel and others from praying to any god, including Jehovah God.  Daniel could have rationalized his situation and decided to be more private and quiet with his "relationship with God" until the storm blew over; but Daniel had a deeper confidence in His God, a God able to care and protect for all His children.  So last week we saw that when Daniel was attacked, he continued to trust in God.  The next condition that Daniel found himself facing was one of loneliness.

All the men that were jealous of Daniel, those who had turned their backs against him, were co-workers with  Daniel.  No, they probably did not hang out after each shift, but never the less they were people that Daniel knew, and maybe had a working relationship with.  It could also be implied that Daniel may have had friends who would pray with him, but now out of fear, have left him to pray alone.  We only read of Daniel being thrown into the lion's den, but was Daniel the only man of faith and prayer in Babylon, among the Jewish people?  And last, it is clear from this passage that Daniel and King Darius had a close relationship.  Yet in a moment of pride and deception, King Darius is swayed over to the "dark side", leaving Daniel alone.  It is in our lonely days in which our faith and trust in God will be greatly weakened or strengthened.  The truth for all Christians is they we are never alone when they trust completely in Christ.  In Psalms 56, we read that while  David was facing fear and loneliness, he was bold to declare, "In God I have put my trust;".  If you and I will will make the commitment to trust God complete, even when we are alone, then we will have a less stressful life.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.