long nights, election results, and lion dens

The long nights of waiting, the unwanted results, interruptions in the plan, and not ever getting what you hoped for. What do those things really have in common? They are tortures of the human soul, shared conditions that might make us feel worse initially. But can also make us better somehow. Whether you suffered a recent loss, an election result you’re not sure you can live with, or face an enemy in your soul’s struggle, you might know what it means to wait. Keep reading if you need a little hope in your waiting, or hope for your current season of struggle. (And tell me, who doesn’t? ❤️)

My geriatric dog has been getting me up at all odd hours of the night for the last four years. I’ve gotten used to fragments of sleep, fragments of hope, fragments of what feels like love.

I’ve still awoken mostly around four or five in the morning, after all th stops and starts.

I’ve gotten used to interruptions and delays in sleep.

Last night, I slept straight through and got to wake up to a whole bright new day (even though technically it was hours before the sun would come too.)

The night previous, I slept for two hours and woke up as most people were headed to bed. So four hours I watched as the votes rolled in, the tide turned red, and then I went to bed.

As I reflect on what happened, I am amazed. Yes, you know I am relieved. I know you may or be. Some say I’m stupid, some say I’m brave for discussing any of it. I don’t know or care what you think about me, personally, but I know that your experience or response may not be what mine is right now. But there’s something more important at stake.

And it’s you.

When I think about it all. including what little sleep I got that night, let alone the four years previously, I cannot help but think of those who wait up, stay up, night after night, in terror or in dismay. Any night, in interruption, in staggered hopes, and broken bodies and troubled dreams.

The morning after the election I woke up with enough energy to run, even though it sounded unreasonable to my mind. I just knew what to do as I woke up and processed and prayed. I guess my body has gotten used to literally running on less sleep.I woke up somehow fully awake, aware and ready to hit the ground running. It made little sense, but I went with it.

(It’s amazing what we learn to live with, while we wait and hope, for years.)

I went on that day to teach a couple bunches of kids about Daniel in the lions den, about bravery in the face of resistance, about sneaky policies and government officials that would try to trap you with their decrees.

Though we all may feel differently after an election about which side does or intends that, we all know the feeling.

And you know what Daniel did? He served and prayed to his God, NO MATTER WHAT.

Daniel chose God, and it got him in trouble.

But God stayed with Daniel throughout the whole night, where he probably didn’t sleep, while the lions roared and rained around him. It sounds awful. But dare I say some of us know that feeling- in theory if not in actuality. We know what it feels to be troubled, to have troubled, prowling around us even as we want so badly to rest.

What did Daniel know though?
He knew who His God was. He knew who His helper was, no matter what was going on around him.

GOD WAS WITH Daniel AND HE SUSTAINED HIM.

As one of the boys pointed out, Daniel had prayed to God a lot already. He knew God, well. So that night in the lions den was no exception. God was His go-to, His constant. God was there for Daniel.

And Daniel knew who God was.

The kid said, “‘maybe he had some food in his pocket, or maybe he knew how to talk to the animals, because he was so close with God.” I’m not sure if I’d ever thought of that possibility. But it was, possible. His knowledge of God and connection with God could have provided for him in unreasonable, unimaginable ways.

But also, and I think most of all, it says that the angel of the Lord was with him. That usually means that the Lord Himself was with him.

God has wherever you need, and when you are in need, you can call to Him. He will sustain you, just as He did Daniel. Even if you’re afraid, even if you got mixed up or did something wrong or find yourself that you didn’t intend. When you cry to the Lord, He hears you.

So whether you’re up and restless because you’re happy or you’re tossing and turning because you feel that you’re surrounded by a dark night full of lions, please know that God hears your prayers.

Maybe He’ll turn the lions into your friends. Maybe He’ll shut their mouths to keep you safe.

Either way, when you look to the God who is always willing to help you, when you pray to Him, He will work at the deepest levels, and you will be able to turn more into one of His friends.

Which makes all the difference in the world. You can know God, no matter what is going on around you. No matter what is happening, you can know Him MORE than you ever have before. These dark nights are an invitation to get to know Him more.

Who knows. Maybe He’ll turn your enemies into friends, too. Maybe He’ll calm you both down. Maybe He’ll make a wall around you where they can’t touch you, even though you hear them growl and groan all night long.

But be open to His love, be open to and seek His constant care. Seek Him in the dark nights of your soul, where you’re troubled and when you’re tired and lonely and frustrated.

It might end up being the best kind of interruption, even with the worst kind of start. It might become the best, brightest, darkest and most amazing night of your soul.

Where you encounter the One, true living GOD who loves you, too.

The one that Daniel knew, the One that delivered Him from lions. The One that can deliver you.
Be brave enough to ask Him for help.
Be brave enough to seek Him, long before you really think you need Him.

You might find out He’s really what you need, long before the lions, long after, and FOREVER.

Whatever your restless soul needs tonight, or early this morning, God knows. God hears. And God can really help.