Scripture Reading: Daniel 12:1-13, 2 Peter 3:8-13, Revelation 1:4-8
“How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). When I’m struggling, these words from the psalmist often echo in my mind. I was 15 years old when I learned about Jesus, began reading the Bible, and became a Christian. Now I look back on over thirty years of following God and finding Him faithful. Yet when I trudge through deep valleys of anxiety, conflict, or brokenness, I still often find myself doubting, wondering, “Lord, do you see me? Do you care?”
Daniel’s visions were terrifying, and the suffering he saw was ongoing and spanned nations. He was given a weighty responsibility to witness and report such intense distress. Yet he was also given a powerful reminder of God’s promises. This gracious reminder is for us as well.
An angelic interpreter explained to Daniel, “Those who have insight will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). What a strange thing to say, that God’s people would shine like stars. But the imagery was not lost on Daniel. He was a faithful Israelite, and this “star talk” would trigger the memory of God’s ancient promise made in the midst of another man’s vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield….Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them….Your offspring will be that numerous” (Genesis 15:1,5). God promised to grow and protect a vast nation through Abram’s family tree. Yet as the years went by and his wife, Sarai, bore no children, Abram began to fear that God might not be true to His word.
Like Abram, Daniel was scared of the future. When would the distress give way to deliverance? “How long until the end of these wondrous things?” asked another witness in the vision (Daniel 12:6). Daniel didn’t get all the answers, but he did receive assurance that God was, and would always be, trustworthy. In remembering the stars, Daniel knew that God had not forgotten Abram. His son Isaac was born. God kept His promise to grow the nation of Israel through Abram’s descendants, and He changed Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5). God proved Himself true to Abraham, and He would continue to be faithful to Daniel and all future believers.
Maybe the stars can trigger our memory of God’s faithfulness too. God knows we can be confused by the world’s suffering and by our own pain. Like Daniel, we may be scared of the future. But God assures us He is “the Alpha and the Omega…the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).
This is our trustworthy, unchanging, eternal hope. God established His people through Abraham’s son, and He protects and secures His people through His own Son, Jesus. God is with us: We are His people, and He is our God. We may forget God, but He does not forget us. He sees us, and He cares for us. Remember the stars.
Written by Patti Sauls
Leave a Reply
53 thoughts on "The End of Days"
What a life of the prophet Daniel! First being told to interpret dreams & reveal them to kings. Later being told to keep visions secret & reveal to no one. Daniel was bolstered & brave; fearful & faithful. God entrusted His servant, treasured him & protected him throughout. Praise to the God who keeps His promises & will make all things known in the fullness of time. Everlasting & everlasting. His righteousness & rule.
Man, the “we may forget God” hits home this morning. I’m usually trying to spend time with God in the early morning but my husband called from work, and it kind of threw the day off. Unfortunately a poor excuse but true. I c
Happy Friday she’s. I am back after one week post op. My eye surgery went so well..and after post op appointments..my recovery is going so well with minimal pain. Thank you so SO much for your prayers. Praise God for a smooth recovery. My vision is still adjusting and improving. I miss you so much. I am off for another week and then back to work and will have screen time 8 hours a day with heavy Excel spreadsheet. Please pray my eyes will recover and can endure. I pray you have a lovely weekend, and may God bless you with his grace and faithfulness. @Searching ❤️❤️❤️ thank you sister. Can’t wait to catch up on the study when I can see better. Be blessed dear sisters. Trust in th Lord with all your heart. Ask Him and He will show you the mighty and the difficult things. Ask..and we shall receive.
Praise God that all went well and your vision is improving! I’m praying it continues to do so, and the return to work goes smoothly. Love and miss you, sweet Mercy ❤️
Continuing prayers
So thankful the pricedure abd recivery so far has gone well!!! It will be great to have you back, Mercy! Continued prayers for healing and for your extensive screen time for work. ❤❤❤
❤️
Wow! This hit home for me. Thanks for sharing.
This morning I have been reminded through my devotions and Bible readings that God is in control, He is patient and not slow. He is the Alpha and Omega! The soon coming King!
What sweet comfort He brings to us and gently reminds us to trust Him! Tonight I will look to the stars!
Praying for the list and the prodigals, for those struggling in their faith, those who have become weary and overburdened, the sick and discouraged. God sees you, He hears you, and He is with you!
Always remember my son saying in a Bible study that focused on Daniel and Revelation… “Define soon.” Heeheehee!
.
Our time is not His.
The God who sees! HE see us! He will never forget us! NEVER! He does not want heaven without us. Happy Friday sweet She’s. Getting blood work done this morning and praying its favorable. I’ve made some dietary changes and hope I receive good results. And I’m OFF for a week! SO excited to see my kiddos! A week from today I’ll be picking up my daughter to bring her home for the weekend. Yes, it will be the weekend before I go back to work, but its worth it!
I looked up and tried to research what ‘Go Your Way’ meant in Daniel 15. I feel like I need to also Go My Way in many areas.
Vs 9: He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
What “Go Your Way” Means
❤️* Cease questioning❤️ Daniel is told to stop trying to pry into details that God has chosen to keep secret for the future.
❤️* Return to daily life❤️ He is instructed to leave the matter in God’s hands and continue faithfully with his normal life and duties until his natural end.
Vs 13: But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”
What “Go Your Way” Means Here
❤️* Stop Wondering❤️ The angel tells Daniel to stop obsessing over hidden future details and secret prophecies that will not be revealed right now.
❤️* Finish Life❤️ Daniel is told to live out the remainder of his days on earth faithfully.
❤️ (love) that! Thanks for sharing.
Love this!
Yes, that’s good! We know it…but do we live it. That is what brings peace and contentment dispite our circumstances. The strength we need, the comfort to our anxieties and fears. HE IS in Control!!!
Still hard to except when I think of my young nieces suicide recently….I ask why God..why didn’t you move in like so many other testimonies. But I have to leave it at his feet.
❤️
Thanks for sharing that! ❤️
PATTI SAULS- as usual you have “knocked it out of the park” with this devo! Wow and THANK YOU!!! ❤
.
2 Peter 3:13
“But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth,a where righteousness dwells.”
.
SONG SHARE:
What a Day That Will Be
by Jim Hill (1955)
Lyrics
1. There is coming a day
When no heartaches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye;
All is peace forevermore
On that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
Chorus
What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
When I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
Then He’ll take me by the hand,
And lead me through the Promised Land,
Oh, what a day, glorious day that will be.
2. There’ll be no sorrow there,
No more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain,
No more parting over there;
And forever I will be
With the One who died for me,
Oh, what a day, glorious day that will be.
Note on hymnary dot com:
“’What A Day That Will Be’ remains a strong testimony to the Christian doctrine of heaven, encouraging believers to persevere in faith while looking forward to the glorious day when they shall see the Lord face to face.”
.
Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
OH I LOVE that Hymn!! I had forgotten about it and will add it to my “Favorite Hymns” playlist!
We sing it often at lifegroup. I love providing harmony!!!
I love the imagery of stars!! After my dad passed, I would often look to the stars and find him. In my little brain, he was always the brightest one shining. My parents always encouraged me in my faith journey, so I like to think the scripture we just read is true! Those who lead others to righteousness will shine bright! ✨
Aww I love that! When my sister passed I saw dragonflies everywhere. They would be in the garden or on the bike path out of nowhere. I know it’s not really her, but I enjoy the “God winks” showing that he cares and giving me a sign. Love that the stars can be that for you!
Amen Tina❣️
❤️
Sobering words. Encouraging words.
Jesus is coming again and each day brings us one day closer to the day that only Almighty God knows.
.
Are we walking faithfully with God?
Are we being truthful to ourselves?
Really walking faithfully with God, or are we one of the wicked and determined to stay that way?
.
Matthew 24:44 (Jesus words) Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
.
Deuteronomy 4:29 29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
.
Praying for the lost, that today all these hearts and minds will open to the truth of God’s love and the need for repentance and salvation.
.
CEE GEE ❤️ Yes, The King Is Coming!
LYNNE FROM AL ❤️ praying for your health and that the Lord will be glorified on the mission trip. Your years of experience are full of wisdom that will be valued by those younger than you.
B ❤️
MERCY ❤️❤️❤️ praying!
KELLY (NEO) ❤️ praying for ‘our’ young mama, for all her needs
Great Scriptures shares and reflections! ❤❤❤
Pricier these requests
“the wicked will act wickedly”
.
Seems obvious, yet how often am I surprised by the ways wickedness shows up in this world?
.
Thankful that even with all the evil in the world, God is restraining it. He is in control and will bring all His promises to pass.
.
Prayers requested for wisdom as I have a zoom job interview today.
.
Praying for your requests.
Praying, Kelly, for wisdom and discernment. ❤️
Praying ❤️
Praying right now, Kelly, that God will meet your every need exceedingly above all you could ask or imagine with this meeting! ❤❤❤!
Praying for wisdom and great favor toward you from whoever you speak with❤️
Praying
Praying for your meeting, Kelly ❤️
Amen!
I love how the devo reminded us to pause and think about the historical context of these visions, and how Daniel would have interpret the imagery and be reminded of God’s past faithfulness. There is definitely something lost in translation when only reading thru the Western lens. Thank you Patti! Lord help us today to remember that Your promises are faithful and true, open our eyes to see how you are working in the midst of all of our circumstances. Amen!
BTW the foreclosure notice of my brother’s house has worked in our benefit in that the court has now moved to make a decision. Apparently it was rendered yesterday, so now we are just waiting for them to send the decision to our attorney. Happy Friday ladies!
Praise the Lord for movement in the court! Praying the attorney receives it today ❤️
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Thanks for the update
Outstanding! Praise the Lord!❤❤❤
Fabulous! PTL!
That’s wonderful! ❤️
Amen!
The Delirious song, I could sing of His love forever, plays in my head as I write!
I may not always call to mind first thing, but boy does His goodness and love and grace and presence and provision and protection and. hope soon come to mind when life throws me lemons.
.
God allows me a moment, and as we read in 2 Peter 3:8, ‘With the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day..’ that moment is as long as it takes for reason and understanding to come.
I’m not saying, I sit on my issues, but what I am saying is God is good and He HAS been since the beginning of time, and will continue to be so till the end of time!
.
As far back as I can remember, though I did not walk as I do now with GOD, I can only say and truly believe I have arrived here today via parents separating at 3, moving to another country,boarding school at age 3.5, and the roller coaster ride of my life begins.. through the trauma and the pain, the rejection and not belonging, I have been broken in more ways than one yet still..
.
BUT GOD..
.
As I live into 4 generations of my own stars, I see God’s hand over my life, and my arrival at today, this day, still receiving blessings!
For sure, the life, now in the rear view mirror, has been turbulent, but it has also been amazingly beautiful, because of His love and faithfulness..
He walked with me and He talked with me in those days I was not aware, and then, when I was aware, He told me, and continues to tell me, my people and I are His own..
.
I absolutely have no idea what the future holds, but I do know this, whatever may come, the Alpha and the Omega, the One who is, who was and who is to come, the Almighty holds me in and will carry me through as He has done for 67 years, His track record of seeing me through, and the in-filling of hope each time, tell me to build my Hope on nothing else or less!
.
AMEN.
.
Happy Friday!
.
Much love.
.
Tina ❤️
Amen Tina!
Yes and amen! ❤️
In my mirning prayer before readung thus, I praised God- that He is the Alpha, the Omega- the beginning and the end. Then I came here and read the same! Amen to your comment, Tina! ❤❤❤
Beautiful, Tina ❤️
Our final reminder from Daniel that God is indeed in control! All of His promises are yes in Jesus! So we continue to hang on and hope in the midst of troubling and frightening times.
Be of good courage Sisters – God will make all things new.
Amen! And a happy Fridaybto you, Sally..
“Be of good courage Sisters – God will make all things new.” Yes and Amen Sally!
❤️
Amen & Amen, sister Sally B!