Faithfulness in Babylon
Open Your Bible
Daniel 1:8-21, 1 Samuel 12:24, 1 Peter 2:11-17
BY Alena Pitts
Do you ever wonder what it means to be favored by God? Or do you ever think about what it looks like to have God’s hand on your life? I thought I knew, but the longer I live the more I realize my understanding of God’s favor is expanding.
At the age of ten, God granted me the opportunity to star in a Christian film called War Room. The movie was a box-office hit and has been viewed by millions of people all over the world. Two years later, God gave me the chance to write a three-book fictional series with my mom titled Lena in the Spotlight. Those books have sold thousands of copies all over the world as well.
These were two life-changing events that gave me the privilege of traveling all over the world to tell my story and share the hope of God. Now, at sixteen, I can easily look back and call that God’s favor.
But I need to be truly transparent and honest with you. When I was asked to write on this passage in the book of Daniel, I immediately felt unequipped and unworthy because there is more to my story.
Two years ago my beautiful mother unexpectedly passed away. She was my best friend. She was with me on the movie set, in my writing, and as I traveled sharing my story. Just two days before she died, we were speaking at a mother/daughter conference together. But then she left this earth really suddenly and entered into eternity. I was devastated. It was the most painful day of my life by far, and I still carry it with me.
But would you call me crazy if I called this God’s favor on my life? I wouldn’t have said that two years ago, but now I’m beginning to understand favor a bit differently, maybe more deeply.
Think about it. Do you think Daniel wanted to leave his home country of Israel? Do you think he would have wanted to live in a land that wasn’t his, working for a king that wasn’t his, being asked to serve a god that wasn’t his? I imagine he was pretty saddened by how his life had changed so quickly. But with the blessing of time and perspective, we can see in our readings today how God’s favor was still with Daniel in all of that.
As devastating and heart-wrenching as reality can be, it can often be God’s favor. God’s favor could be anything He has done or allowed in your life in order to fulfill His ultimate purposes. And what is God’s purpose? That people would find Him in the midst of their lives, in their pain and struggle, and come to know that they are deeply loved by Him.
What if, like Daniel, God wants to use your story to help others find Jesus? What if His favor can be found in the things that feel like blessings, as well as the things that are really hard? What if He wanted to use all of your life to show up in your story and lead others home to Him? Would you choose today to view all of it as His favor, working to fulfill His good purposes?
129 thoughts on "Faithfulness in Babylon"
-
God has a plan. I had prayed before I started reading my One Year bible and then onto this study for God to speak to me… Well I don’t think I could’ve had more of a neon sign if it had slapped me in the face. It’s Election Day and reading this along with the accompanying verse from 1 Peter, it really allowed me to take a breath and relax to know that God is in control. That no matter what happens I can get through this. My Study Bible emphasized the words “legitimate leader” when reading the explanation of the verse 1 Peter 2:13. All the build up to this election has put in peoples minds that there may be controversy over legitimacy in the election. So as I just got home from making my vote and as the days and weeks ahead come and go, all we can do is pray for grace and guidance and always be assured that God has a plan whether we understand it at the time or not.
May all of you be blessed and comforted today!
-
Lord how excellent is yoir name
-
Amen!
-
This devotional speaks to me! It’s hard to see the blessing in the midst of pain. But God is showing me that there is purpose in my pain! When HE removes people that you love, it hurts! But sometimes it’s necessary as it may be the only way to get your attention and turn back to Jesus so you could grow in your purpose! All Glory to God!
-
Wow. So deeply encouraged by this reading. So much wisdom and truth. I lost my father this past April. Its been cut wrenching and devastating. As a believer for 18 yrs, this was like a rug was pulled from under me, my faith shaken. This was exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you Alena. ♥️
-
My father passed suddenly when I was 19. My younger sister was 10. It was tough. But now, looking back, I do see that God had a plan and that He works through tragedy. And I also remember that this life is temporary. Often God works in the temporary to the eternal good. This life is but a twinkle. But His factor through it is a blessing.
-
Usually when people talk about God’s favor they speak of the good things that happen in their lives. Rarely is God’s favor connected to the struggle, but if we count it all as joy and His everlasting favor we might see the mountains and valleys in our lives differently.
This was a good reminder and, honestly, a magnifying glass for what God’s favor truly means.
-
Wow. It will be 4 years since my mom passed away when I was 20 years old next week. Though I’ve slowly been able to see God’s hand amongst the grief and pain over time, this puts a whole new lens on it.
Post Comments (129)