December 1st, 2021
By Kayla Harrison
Imagine sitting at a king’s feast eating good food, drinking the finest wine, and talking with those of nobility. You’re taking a bite of your bread when suddenly you see something strange out of the corner of your eye: a human hand floating in mid-air. The hand begins writing on the palace wall, and you watch as words are written out. As bizarre or fictitious as this story sounds, it’s real! Daniel 5 describes King Belshazzar’s feast and Daniel’s interpretation of the message the hand had inscribed on the wall, a message from God to the king that would tell him his time of ruling was coming to an end. (To see Daniel's interpretation, read Daniel 5:25-31).
Before revealing what was written, Daniel tells him, “You have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life” (Daniel 5:23c). Not only is this statement direct, it is full of truth about God — one that I think we often forget: God holds our life-breath in His hand and He has control over the course of our lives. Every breath that keeps us alive is in God’s hand.
Fast forward a bit to find out (spoiler alert!) Belshazzar is killed and Darius the Mede takes over as king. Daniel, at this time, had become an administrator for the kingdom, and the king wanted to put him in charge of the entire realm. However, others were upset. So, the other administrators and local rulers convinced the king to sign an edict saying that anyone who consulted another god or ruler besides Darius would be thrown into the lion’s den. When Daniel heard this news he went home and prayed to God, “as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10).
This is significant to note because Daniel didn’t start praying for the first time in months or suddenly freak out and beg God to do something. He did what he always did: spent time communing with God and thanking Him. Daniel’s reaction to the news showed how much trust he had that God was in control. I think a lot of times when we face scary or uncertain circumstances we immediately feel afraid and beg God to change what’s happening in our favor. Whether we realize it or not, every action and reaction we have shows what we believe about God. Most times, we live as though God can’t be trusted.
Rest assured, though, that God is, in fact, in control of everything. Will it always work out how we want? No, but that would mean that we were in control and not God (what an unsettling thought to think of what life would be like if I was in control...me, who knows nothing about the future or how my choices will impact my life’s course).
One of the most encouraging quotes I’ve heard lately comes from Jackie Hill Perry’s book Holier Than Thou: “If God is holy, then He can’t sin. If God can’t sin, then He can’t sin against you. If He can’t sin against you, shouldn’t that make Him the most trustworthy being there is?” When circumstances change, God is still the same as He’s always been, and He can be trusted to have control.
Are we living like God is trustworthy?
Imagine sitting at a king’s feast eating good food, drinking the finest wine, and talking with those of nobility. You’re taking a bite of your bread when suddenly you see something strange out of the corner of your eye: a human hand floating in mid-air. The hand begins writing on the palace wall, and you watch as words are written out. As bizarre or fictitious as this story sounds, it’s real! Daniel 5 describes King Belshazzar’s feast and Daniel’s interpretation of the message the hand had inscribed on the wall, a message from God to the king that would tell him his time of ruling was coming to an end. (To see Daniel's interpretation, read Daniel 5:25-31).
Before revealing what was written, Daniel tells him, “You have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life” (Daniel 5:23c). Not only is this statement direct, it is full of truth about God — one that I think we often forget: God holds our life-breath in His hand and He has control over the course of our lives. Every breath that keeps us alive is in God’s hand.
Fast forward a bit to find out (spoiler alert!) Belshazzar is killed and Darius the Mede takes over as king. Daniel, at this time, had become an administrator for the kingdom, and the king wanted to put him in charge of the entire realm. However, others were upset. So, the other administrators and local rulers convinced the king to sign an edict saying that anyone who consulted another god or ruler besides Darius would be thrown into the lion’s den. When Daniel heard this news he went home and prayed to God, “as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10).
This is significant to note because Daniel didn’t start praying for the first time in months or suddenly freak out and beg God to do something. He did what he always did: spent time communing with God and thanking Him. Daniel’s reaction to the news showed how much trust he had that God was in control. I think a lot of times when we face scary or uncertain circumstances we immediately feel afraid and beg God to change what’s happening in our favor. Whether we realize it or not, every action and reaction we have shows what we believe about God. Most times, we live as though God can’t be trusted.
Rest assured, though, that God is, in fact, in control of everything. Will it always work out how we want? No, but that would mean that we were in control and not God (what an unsettling thought to think of what life would be like if I was in control...me, who knows nothing about the future or how my choices will impact my life’s course).
One of the most encouraging quotes I’ve heard lately comes from Jackie Hill Perry’s book Holier Than Thou: “If God is holy, then He can’t sin. If God can’t sin, then He can’t sin against you. If He can’t sin against you, shouldn’t that make Him the most trustworthy being there is?” When circumstances change, God is still the same as He’s always been, and He can be trusted to have control.
Are we living like God is trustworthy?
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