Relentless negativity. It seems like every comment on every issue is critical. We can add to that...or we can reflect relentless hope, building up and filling people with joy.

Relentless can have both a negative and positive meaning. It can mean unending or merciless, as in relentless trials. It can also mean continuous or never giving up, as in love or pursuit. And often we can find the relentless love of God in the midst or relentless trials.

The book of Daniel is well-known for the fiery furnace, the lions’ den, and the prophecies of the end times. Interpreting these visions can lead to some confusion, but in the end, the power and rule of the kingdom of God is clear.

Hungry, prowling lions. That sounds scary, but I’ve never actually been the prey of a ferocious beast. It is hard to fathom the situation Daniel was in. The reality, however, is that we are surrounded by lions every day, seeking to devour us. The assurance is that the God who rescued Daniel is the same God who is with us right now.

The God who is working throughout Daniel’s life is the same God who created the universe, is still reigning today and will be for all of eternity. Everything else comes and goes.

Have you ever been knocked flat on your back, absolutely humbled by a person or circumstance? What did you learn from that? Was it positive or negative? God often works in our lives to teach us, sometimes humbling us, so that we keep ourselves and our relationship with Him in the proper perspective. That is what God does with Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4.

What sets the one true God apart from all other gods (which are ultimately false gods)? The one true God can do what no one or nothing else can do.

Have you ever felt like you did not fit in? Daniel and some of his Jewish friends were taken to a new land with different beliefs and values. The people lived very differently than Daniel and his friends. Though they could have changed to fit in to the new culture, Daniel and the others chose instead to be faithful to God. This led to some very difficult situations in which they experienced the power, grace and faithful love of God.