It's quiet in the pit

     For a long time I have always lamented the telling of Daniel in the lions den. Sure as a child it was always fascinating (isn't every story about lions fascinating as a child) but when I became an adult something about it always bothered me. People always seem to tell this story like it's a happy one, but it's not. Daniel had already overcome and incredible amount by this point in his life. His home had been destroyed and he was taken captive into Babylon, he gave a nutrition class while in jail, his friends faced the heat of the furnace, he interpreted dreams and graffiti, and he worked so hard that even though he was essentially a slave he was given an incredible amount of respect and authority. Pick just one of these stories, any one of them and you already have an amazing example of faithfulness and God's protection.
     And yet, for some reason that wasn't enough. God ordained that it was necessary that Daniel not only be tested again, but that he should be an example to the entire kingdom. Most of us are familiar with the story and how things went downhill for Daniel. There were many men jealous of Daniel in the kingdom. They were tired of his ways and wanted to be done with him, but since he was such a faithful man they were unable to actually find any fault with him. Let that sink in for a moment. That long list of things Daniel had already gone through, he felt no contempt for god, no bitterness or anger of having suffered. So much so, that he was so upright that even though he was followed and spied on no one could catch him doing anything wrong. In fact he even purposefully took time to acknowledge God and pray three times a day. So in order to get rid of him, they had to make something up. They talked to the king and tricked him, making him sign an order that if any one else prays to any one; person, rock, cloud, or God, they would be killed by being fed to the lions.
     Daniel being faithful ignored this law and continued to pray to God. I believe he knew very well about the law and probably even knew this was trap. Not only that, he more than likely knew the individuals who were trying to get rid of them. Did he call on God to smite them? Did he call them out of being terrible human beings who couldn't run a fruit stand let along a kingdom? Nope. He did what he did every day like nothing changed. he went to his room and he prayed.

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he done before" Daniel 6:10 NIV

 He prayed knowing full well there would be some kind of trouble in it for him. He didn't hide it, didn't try to go underground with his faith. Because of this, everyone in the city knew something was going to happen.
     The jealous men brought Daniel before the king and informed him of his misdeed. They reminded the King that he signed a decree that he was not allowed to change. This actually comes up a few times in the text. I think this was purposeful, kind of a poking the bear situation when it came to dealing with their King. These men didn't just want to get rid of Daniel, they were also letting their King know that they could get what they wanted if they really needed to. So the King had no choice. He gave the order. Daniel was thrown into the den with a large stone over place and then sealed shut.

     Now this is the part I really want you pay attention to. Read this next part real slow and out loud

"Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. At first light of dawn, the King got up and hurried to the lions den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?" Daniel 18-20"

     When trying to brainstorm they always say that there are no dumb questions. This might be the dumbest question in history. Who is the king talking to? Daniel is a dead. He probably died the second he hit the ground. There is absolutetly no reason what so ever the King should think that he is still alive.  Here look, please indulge me, this is what I want you to do before you read any more. Follow this link below, make sure your speakers are up to at least 50%.

Lion Roar


     Now I'm not going to get into a debate about Babylonian lion den architecture alright, but what that link should demonstrate is that was one lion. A den of lions (plural) would be much worse than that. Daniel is dead and the king is a babbling idiot if he thinks he is still alive. Can you image all of the other people there that morning hearing their king talking into a death trap thinking his friend is alive?
     Now this is the part I don't like. I know that the ending sounds nice, but when I hear people tell this story they paint this stupid cute picture of how Daniel was petting the lions, maybe he even curled up next to them like giant pillows. What absolute garbage. That may be something that is acceptable to tell a child who needs to not be scarred by the horrible death of being eaten alive by a lion, but let me paint a more accurate picture.
     Daniel stands before the den, or more accurately, the pit. Even standing outside the pit the stench of rot and decay is overwhelming. Many of the guards have their faces covered to not breathe it in. Daniel prays quietly to himself begging for God to intercede. This isn't really a new position for him as he has faced danger and hatred many times in this foreign land. His friends made it through the furnace alive, God would spare him not too. Even if he didn't, the entire city knew he did no wrong. His sacrifice would still mean great things to kingdom of God. Daniel looks over to his friend the King. He doesn't look back, although he does look sad. Daniel realizes that he will not save him, and that its not his fault. He continues to pray. He listens to his friend somberly say the words "put him in". He closes his eyes and is unceremoniously pushed from behind into darkness. Before he can stand up, he hears the rock cover the entrance. Daniel is in the pit. God did not save him. What reason is there to believe that he would be saved now.
     He is in complete and utter darkness, he can't even see his hand in front of his face. The smell has intensified. The urge to vomit has become unbearable at this point. He can't see anything, but he can feel the bones and torn bits of clothing (hopefully) under his feet. This is a pit of death. Then worst of all, he hears it. Go ahead and queue up that lion roar track again, good, now imagine that inside ten of those are inside the room you are in. Its dark, you can't see anything, but you can hear just how many of them are trapped inside with you. Daniel backs up slowly until he hits a cold dirt wall. He slumps down against it, praying again and waiting for was is going to happen.
     This is the truth of what happened to Daniel. Now we all know the rest. God sent an angel that shut the mouth of the lions and he was sparred. Please don't embarrass us both by saying that after the angel came it was a peaceful night for him. He didn't sleep. He kept aware of the constant danger lurking around him. Now I don't how angels show up. Maybe he couldn't even see anything. All he knew is that he could hear the lions, but they weren't eating him. Maybe he could see the angel and they spent all night playing I spy. When we get to heaven we can ask. But anyone who says that every second inside that pit wasn't agonizing is turning the Bible into fairy tales.
     Now we all know the rest of the story right. Daniel was alive. His faithfulness to God showed again through this experience and many people throughout the kingdom heard of this and began to worship God as well. Even the king gave up worship to himself and gave it to God.

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     So what then, why the bubble bursting? Well, I write this to tell you that I am in the pit. I feel alone, trapped, and facing a lurking danger. In April I was asked/volunteered to leave a job I loved. No matter my input, the place I was at needed healing, the kind only God could provide. We knew our time was coming to a close, but it didn't make it any less frustrating when it happened.
     In this job I grew more than ever before. I gained so many skills that I had yet to master. I was running a business and a ministry at the same time. I was analyzing a years worth of finical data broken down into weeks and extrapolating trends to helps us be prepared to finical hits. I was managing over twenty staff and one hundred children on a daily basis. I was organizing to be on top of every meetings, every email, and every phone call.
      I was also printing off coloring sheets and singing the papaya song (look it up). I loved it. I loved pouring into the lives of children and families. However, it was clear that this place had wounds deeper than what we were capable of healing.
    Since then we have done something we hate doing. We went back home. Now don't read to much into that, my family is amazing and has always been supportive. However, there is seemingly no greater insult to an adult than to fail on their own and have to come back home. I wasn't disappointed to have come home, I was disappointed to have failed on my own.
    Sine June, my family and I have been back home. We had some money saved and were looking for our next step. We had plenty of interviews and potential opportunities, but none of them worked out. As the days went on, we got more and more disappointed. The pit started growing.
     Now we are here at the end of August. Our money is gone and we have had to rely on others to help us pay our bills. We have gone from looking for our next great career step to not being able to land jobs in our own home towns.
     For me the pit is seemingly endless. It feels impossibly big and unrealistically dark. I have changed so much in just a year, I though for sure getting a new job would be simple.
     As we wait, and have patience with God, every day because harder and longer than the last. My wife remains strong and reminds me that God gives us these times in order to grow us. That when God tests our faith, then is when we become closest to him. God requires more from a man he plans to use. Once a week faith is insufficient. God desires those who are always seeking after him.
     Many of you have not heard from me in some time and I wanted to be able to give an update on what is happening in our lives. This is what is happening. God is teaching us patience and faithfulness. He is growing us in the pit, and we are waiting for morning.  Please don't ask if I have found work. I will tell you when I do. Please don't tell me about some job some acquaintance of yours heard about. I already know about it. I have done all my earthly body can do to change our situation. If you would like to help, please pray. Pray that we can have patience and strength to pass this time. Pray that God will reveal his next step for our life. Pray for my family, that we can embrace each other during this time and be thankful that we are together.
     Even during this time, we are anxious to be serving. That being said, my wife and I have an incredible amount of skill and passion for serving children and families. If you are in need of a someone to invest in your youth group, children's ministry, church, day care, or personally we would love to help. Thanks for investing in us and praying for our family.
     Daniel got to experience being pulled from the pit. He was so desired that the King ran down at first light after waiting all night for him. He was able to increase the kingdom of God because of his time in the pit. Like Daniel, I am waiting daylight.

***Only when we are emptied of our own self-sufficiency can God use us.  - K.P. Yah