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!” (Dan. 6:16)
IN JUNE 2009, Aayisa Noreen spent a day harvesting berries with a group of Muslim women. At the end of the day, the women became angry with her for drinking from the same fountain they used. The women accused her of blasphemy. In 2010 Aayisa was the first, and so far only, woman in Pakistan to be sentenced to death for blasphemy. Government ministers who pleaded her case were executed, and her family and their five daughters live in hiding. Some six years after her sentencing, Aayisa’s case is still under appeal.
There are many times in life when serving God faithfully does not save you from trouble. In fact, in many situations, serving faithfully can cause trouble.
Darius was so moved by Daniel’s faithfulness that he said, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (Dan. 6:16).
We don’t serve God to avoid trouble; we serve God so that, in the midst of trouble, we can keep standing. It is because we have faith in God that we can keep serving Him faithfully during times of conflict. Perhaps, as was the case of Daniel, even those who are persecuting us, will begin to hope for our God to intervene.
In the midst of trouble, serve God continually.
Jeff Hughes lives in Nebraska with his wife, Sarah, and their three kids. They spend weekends outdoors, hiking, camping, and skiing.
© 2017 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
