Streams in a Wasteland

I think it's interesting that I happened upon this little picture, which was drawn from a passage in Daniel, because my small group has been going through Daniel. I've been struck continually each week with how dedicated Daniel and his three friends were to God. There was never any plan B for them. They always knew that their God could save them or change their situations, but they never had any guarantees that He would. Even so, they would follow the LORD until death. 

It would be easy to sit here and say, "I wish I had a faith like theirs", or "They just knew God would save them so they didn't experience fear", or "Easy for them, they were Israelites." But the truth is, they were human. Just like me. Just like you. God had not told them, in any scary situations they found themselves in, that He would deliver them. But God had given them His word. And if you have the Word, you have the knowledge that God is good. And if you have the knowledge that He is good, and that He does good, it's enough. As simple as it is, it brings a torrent of peace that my heart and mind have been aching for. I would love for my situations to change. I would love to be made completely well. I would love to be able to provide for every financial need my family and I have. I would love to be able to fix all of my loved one's and friend's problems. I would love to be perfect at what I do and the things I attempt. I would love to have new opportunities to pursue different passions. But, even if things never change, even if all of the fears, lies, and situations I battle daily don't change, He is still good.