Peace in the pit
3 You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3Bible Reading
Daniel 6:16-18
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 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 nothing concerning Daniel could be changed. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.
Picture the scene. A dark, damp pit. The smell of wild animals. The heavy stone rolling shut above, blocking out the light. Daniel is alone. Or is he? While the king paces the palace, unable to eat or sleep, Daniel belongs to the God who rules even in the den. What is the difference? The king had a crown, but no peace. Daniel had a death sentence, but he had the Prince of Peace. In your student life, you will face pits. You will face exams that look as if they will eat you alive. You will face financial situations that seem to seal your doom. The question is this: Will you be like Darius—worried, sleepless, and frantic? Or will you be like Daniel? Peace is not the absence of lions. Peace is the presence of God with the lions. If you serve God continually, you can rest in His care. You can close your eyes and sleep, knowing that God’s angel is on the night shift.
Action Point
Tonight, before you sleep, write down every lion—every worry—on a piece of paper. Pray over it. Then tear it up and throw it away. Go to sleep trusting God to handle them.
Prayer Point
Father, I trade my anxiety for Your peace. I refuse to be sleepless like the world. I trust You to shut the mouths of my problems. I rest in You.
Reflection Point
Who is more stressed right now—me or the people watching me? My peace should be a testimony.