I was walking down the hallway at work this morning, praying for the day and had to stop for a few minutes when this allegory crossed my heart. Do you remember the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den? There are so many things we can take from that story. Maybe you’ve studied the faithfulness of Daniel even in the midst of an impossibility, or how God saved Daniel. But, I want to explore something a little bit different.
Once I realized I was seeing something a bit different than my work office, I stopped and waited for a minute because I didn’t want to lose the essence of what I experienced. And the essence returned. I saw Daniel sitting among the lions. And, then I saw a picture of today’s world, an environment filled with bickering, complaining, and arguing and the idea that each day lions come in many shapes and sizes. For example, negativity is spread by co-workers gossiping among themselves. Family members may hurt you with their words. Even the voices in your own head may be the loudest – you know the ones – the ones screaming at you that you’re stupid, or you’re never going to figure it out, or you really don’t hear God, or He doesn’t still talk to people the way He did in the Bible, or everyone else has what you want and they don’t deserve it. Yep, I think the voices in our own heads may be the most fierce lions after all.
Nevertheless, the Bible says that God can shut the mouths of those lions. He has the power. He has already proven He can – just look in the book of Daniel if you’re wondering if that’s true. But, just as Daniel says, even if God chooses not to save him from the lions Daniel will serve the Lord anyway.
I’ve had a few lions the past couple of months. At work, at home, even in my own mind. But, when I get quiet and I ask The Lord what I should do – because after all, there must be something I should be doing to fix my problems, right? – He tells me, “Shhh, just wait.” Of course, I must not have heard properly and as my anxiety increases as my mind regurgitates my worries over again, I ask again, “Lord, what should I do?” I sense a smile this time as He graciously repeats Himself, “Shh, just wait. I’ve got you.”
So, now I have a choice. Either I believe The Lord is shutting all of those lion’s mouths and all I need to do is wait, or I believe I need to “do something.” What if sitting right in that den of lions is the very best place for me to be? What if, though it may be uncomfortable, my faith can only grow when I am sitting among the lions. What if the beauty of the next morning is seeing the hand of God move. But, I am guaranteed to miss the miracle if I don’t be still and wait. I’ll be so busy doing “something” that I will miss the “amazing.”
Dear Lord, thank you for the lions.
May you keep my mouth shut so I am not a lion in someone else’s life.
And, Lord, I have trouble, as you know, being quiet and waiting.
Thank you for your patience, and for your provision.
Teach me to trust you and honor you in the wait.
In Jesus’ Name.
Humility In The Gap 