Let’s talk about Daniel. Not Daniel the superhero. Not Daniel the untouchable. Daniel—the underdog. The guy who did everything right, but still ended up in the den. The den of lions. The den of injustice. The den of “this isn’t fair.”
We know this story, right? But do we really know it?
Let’s walk through it together. Let’s listen for the heartbeat of God pulsing through the unfairness, the silence, the faithfulness, the rescue.
I. Life Isn't Fair– Daniel Faced Injustice
Daniel is at the top. He’s trusted, respected, promoted. But jealousy breeds a plot. The rules are changed.
The trap is set. And Daniel? He’s caught in the middle of a law designed to destroy him.
Quote: “They couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. So they concluded, ‘Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.’”
Daniel did nothing wrong. He was targeted because of his integrity, not his failure.
Sometimes, life is just not fair. Sometimes, you’re the underdog and you didn’t even sign up for the game. You’re passed over, lied about, set up.
Daniel’s story begins in the gap between what is right and what is real.
II. He Wasn’t Fighting – Daniel Responded with Prayer, Not Protest
Daniel didn’t stage a protest. He didn’t post a manifesto. He didn’t organize a rally.
He simply kept living his faith. He let his life speak louder than his words.
Quote: “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.”
III. Daniel Was Faithful – Daniel Stayed the Course
Daniel did what he always did. He prayed. He trusted. He kept his rhythm.
He didn’t let the threat of lions disrupt his devotion.
He didn’t melt down. He didn’t stress out.
He leaned into his routine of talking to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah without fear of the lions in the den.
For many of us, we simply need to build some spiritual daily routines or rituals.
In an age marked by constant change and uncertainty, anxiety has become a common experience for most of us.
Yet, across cultures and centuries, people have turned to daily rituals—whether prayer, meditation, or reading scripture—as anchors of stability and peace.
Recent research and ancient wisdom, including the teachings of the Bible, reveal a profound link between these practices and reduced anxiety.
Scripture – Matthew 6:34 (MSG): “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
Scripture – Romans 12:1 (MSG): “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”
Faithfulness isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about daily decisions.
IV. God Wasn’t Finished – God Met Daniel in the Den
God honored Daniel’s faithfulness.
Not by keeping him out of the den, but by meeting him in it.
God sent an angel. God shut the lions’ mouths.
God turned the story of injustice into a story of deliverance.
Quote – Daniel 6:22: “My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight.”
Conclusion: What About Us?
Where in your life are you facing the lions?
Where is it unfair?
Where are you tempted to fight, to protest, to make it right in your own power?
What if the invitation is to do what you’ve always done—to be faithful?
What if God’s greatest work isn’t in keeping you out of the den, but in meeting you right in the middle of it?
Daniel’s story isn’t about avoiding trouble.
It’s about encountering God in the middle of it.
It’s about a faith that endures when life isn’t fair.
It’s about a God who honors faithfulness with presence, with peace, and sometimes—miraculously—with deliverance.
Final Word:
It Wasn’t Fair – Daniel faced injustice.
He Wasn’t Fighting – Daniel didn’t protest; he prayed.
He Was Faithful – Daniel did what he always did.
God Wasn’t Finished – God honored Daniel’s trust.
Maybe today you feel like the underdog. Maybe you’re in a den of lions.
Remember Daniel.
Remember:
God is not absent in the unfairness.
God is present in your faithfulness.
And the story isn’t over yet.
Friend, like Daniel, speak to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who controls the lions of this earth and build your routine on the one that will get in the fight, in the den and in the mess with you.
He is none other than Jesus – the Don of God, the Great I Am, the Rock of Ages, the Bright Morning Star, the Light of the World, our Strong Tower, our Healer, our Savior!
