Finding Hope and Identity in God's Sovereignty

Devotional

Day 1: God Is Sovereign Even in Uncertainty

In times of upheaval, loss, or fear, it is easy to feel as though the world is spinning out of control and that God is absent. Yet, even when circumstances seem devastating or confusing, God remains sovereign, orchestrating events for His purposes—even when we do not understand. The story of Daniel and his friends being taken into exile, stripped of their homeland and identity, reminds us that God is present and working, even in the darkest valleys. We can bring our grief, anger, and confusion to Him, trusting that He is not indifferent but is with us, breaking with us, and guiding us through every trial. [06:44]

Daniel 1:1-2 (ESV)
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.

Reflection: When have you felt like God was absent in a difficult situation, and how might you look back now to see where He was present and working in ways you didn’t expect?

Day 2: Holding Fast to God-Given Identity

When the world tries to redefine who you are—through pressure, labels, or circumstances—God calls you to remember your true identity as His beloved child. Daniel and his friends were given new names and forced into a foreign culture, but they did not let go of who God said they were. Their original names reflected their relationship with God, and even as others tried to erase that, they held fast to their true identity. In a world that often seeks to shape us into its own image, we are invited to resist and remember that our worth, purpose, and belonging are found in God alone. [25:55]

Daniel 1:6-7 (ESV)
Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

Reflection: What labels or expectations from others have you struggled to shake off, and how can you intentionally remind yourself of your God-given identity today?

Day 3: Choosing Faithful Resistance

Even when it seems like everything is out of your control, you can choose to honor God in the small decisions. Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the king’s food, a seemingly minor act, but it was a powerful declaration that his allegiance was to God, not to the culture around him. This act of faithful resistance was not about dietary preference but about maintaining spiritual integrity and dependence on God as provider. When you feel pressured to conform or compromise, remember that God honors those who make up their minds to follow Him, even in the little things. [28:41]

Daniel 1:8-10 (ESV)
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”

Reflection: What is one small area in your life where you can choose to honor God today, even if it means standing out or risking misunderstanding?

Day 4: Trusting God as Provider

God knows your needs and is able to provide for you, even when you are in unfamiliar or hostile circumstances. Daniel and his friends trusted God to sustain them, and He not only met their needs but gave them wisdom, strength, and favor beyond what anyone expected. Jesus echoes this truth, teaching us not to worry about what we will eat or wear, but to seek first God’s kingdom, trusting that He will supply all we need. When you feel anxious about provision or the future, remember that God is faithful and attentive to every detail of your life. [34:21]

Matthew 6:31-34 (ESV)
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Reflection: What is one specific worry or need you can entrust to God today, asking Him to provide in His way and timing?

Day 5: Hope in God’s Unshakable Kingdom

Kingdoms rise and fall, leaders come and go, but the kingdom of God endures forever. Daniel’s life spanned multiple empires and rulers, yet through it all, God’s purposes prevailed and His people endured. No matter what changes or uncertainties you face—whether in your personal life or in the world—you can have hope because God’s kingdom cannot be shaken. When you seek first His kingdom, you are rooted in a hope that outlasts every trial, every regime, and every storm. [42:20]

Hebrews 12:28 (ESV)
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to shift your focus from temporary circumstances to the enduring hope of God’s unshakable kingdom?

Sermon Summary

This week has been heavy, filled with events that have left many of us anxious, grieving, and confused. Even when we are not the direct victims of violence or tragedy, we are still deeply affected by the fear, division, and uncertainty that ripple through our communities. It’s important to pause and acknowledge these feelings, not to be consumed by them, but to bring them honestly before God, trusting that He is present with us in our pain and confusion. Our emotions are not foreign to Him; we are created in His image, and when our hearts break, His heart breaks as well.

Turning to the book of Daniel, we find a story of hope in the midst of exile and forced assimilation. Daniel and his friends were taken from their homeland, stripped of their identities, and subjected to a process designed to erase their connection to God and their people. They were given new names, new roles, and new dependencies, all meant to sever their ties to their true identity and to the God of Israel. Yet, in the face of overwhelming pressure, Daniel made up his mind not to be defiled. He chose to resist in the small ways he could, trusting God to provide for him even when everything else was out of his control.

This act of resistance was not just about dietary laws; it was a declaration of dependence on God as the true provider and authority. Daniel’s faithfulness was met with God’s favor, wisdom, and provision, even as he lived under the rule of foreign kings. Through regime changes and shifting empires, Daniel endured because he remained rooted in his identity as God’s servant. The story reminds us that kingdoms rise and fall, but the kingdom of God prevails. Our hope is not in earthly powers or circumstances, but in the unchanging sovereignty of God.

To seek first the kingdom of God means to make up our minds, like Daniel, to place God’s authority above all else, to learn from Him, to serve Him, and to be filled by Him. It means aligning our lives with His will, even when the world tries to redefine us or control us. In every season—whether in crisis or calm—we are invited to trust that God is on the throne, that He knows our needs, and that He is faithful to provide. This is the hope that sustains us, no matter what we face.

Key Takeaways

1. Acknowledging Pain and Bringing It to God It is not weakness to feel grief, anxiety, or anger in the face of tragedy and division. God invites us to bring our honest emotions to Him, knowing that He is present with us in our suffering. Our emotions are a reflection of being made in His image, and He grieves with us. In the midst of darkness, we can run to God’s altar and trust that He understands and cares deeply for us. [05:42]
2. Identity Under Pressure: The Power of Resistance When Daniel and his friends were stripped of their names and identities, the world tried to redefine them according to its own values and gods. Yet, Daniel resolved not to be defiled, choosing to hold fast to his true identity in God. Even small acts of faithfulness can be profound resistance against forces that seek to control or assimilate us. Our identity in God is not subject to the world’s definitions or labels. [28:41]
3. Dependence on God as Provider Daniel’s refusal to depend on the king’s provision was a declaration that God alone is his provider. In a world that often demands our allegiance and promises security, true peace comes from trusting God to meet our needs. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 6, reminding us not to worry about tomorrow but to seek first God’s kingdom, trusting that He knows and provides for all our needs. [32:24]
4. God’s Sovereignty Amidst Changing Kingdoms The story of Daniel spans decades and multiple empires, yet through it all, God’s kingdom endures. Earthly powers rise and fall, but God’s authority remains unshaken. Even when circumstances seem chaotic or hopeless, God is orchestrating His purposes, often in ways we cannot see in the moment. Looking back, we can often trace His faithfulness and provision through seasons of loss and uncertainty. [40:25]
5. Making Up Our Minds to Seek God’s Kingdom First To seek God’s kingdom is an intentional, daily choice to place His authority, wisdom, and purposes above all else. This involves aligning our thoughts, actions, and desires with His will through prayer, Scripture, worship, and community. Like Daniel, we are called to make up our minds not to be defiled by the world, but to remain connected to God, trusting that He is our hope and salvation.

** [45:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:46] - Acknowledging Collective Grief and Anxiety
[05:42] - Praying for Victims and Our Community
[06:44] - The Groaning of Creation and Our Role
[07:59] - Introduction to Daniel: Historical Context
[10:35] - The Political Landscape of Judah and Babylon
[13:06] - Jehoiakim’s Reign and Babylonian Conquest
[14:46] - The Purpose of Exile and Assimilation
[17:38] - Indoctrination: Literature, Language, and Identity
[21:43] - Total Dependence on the King
[23:04] - The Significance of Name Changes
[24:20] - The Meaning Behind the New Names
[28:02] - Daniel’s Resolve: Choosing Not to Be Defiled
[32:24] - Trusting God’s Provision Over Earthly Security
[36:51] - God’s Favor and the Triumph of Faithfulness
[38:16] - The Endurance of God’s People Through Regime Changes
[42:20] - God’s Sovereignty in the Midst of Exile
[44:30] - What It Means to Seek God’s Kingdom First
[46:29] - Prayer of Commitment and Trust

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Daniel 1:1-21 (ESV) — In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god...
(Read the full chapter together as a group.)

Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV) — “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Observation Questions

What were some of the specific ways that Daniel and his friends’ identities were challenged or changed when they were taken to Babylon? (see Daniel 1:6-7; [23:04])
According to Daniel 1, what did Daniel resolve not to do, and how did he go about making his request? (Daniel 1:8-12; [28:02])
What was the result of Daniel and his friends’ decision to not eat the king’s food? (Daniel 1:15-20; [36:51])
In Matthew 6, what does Jesus say about worry and God’s provision? ([32:24])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the Babylonians were so intentional about changing the names, language, and diet of Daniel and his friends? What was at stake for them? ([23:04])
What does Daniel’s refusal to eat the king’s food reveal about his relationship with God and his understanding of where his true identity and provision come from? ([28:41])
The sermon mentioned that God’s sovereignty remains even when kingdoms rise and fall. How might this truth have encouraged Daniel and his friends during their exile? ([40:25])
Jesus tells his followers to “seek first the kingdom of God.” How does Daniel’s story help us understand what this looks like in real life? ([44:30])

Application Questions

The sermon began by acknowledging the heaviness and anxiety many of us feel in the face of tragedy and division. When was the last time you brought your honest emotions—grief, anger, confusion—directly to God? What happened? ([05:42])
Daniel and his friends were pressured to accept new identities and dependencies. Are there places in your life where you feel pressured to compromise or hide your identity as a follower of Jesus? What are some “small acts of faithfulness” you could practice in those situations? ([28:41])
Daniel’s act of resistance was not dramatic, but it was intentional and rooted in trust. Is there an area in your life where you need to “make up your mind” to trust God’s authority over the world’s expectations? What would that look like this week? ([44:30])
The sermon talked about dependence—Daniel refused to depend on the king’s provision, declaring that God alone is his provider. In what ways do you find yourself depending on things other than God for security or identity? How can you shift your dependence back to God? ([32:24])
Looking back, Daniel could see God’s faithfulness even in hard seasons. Can you think of a time when you only recognized God’s provision or presence after the fact? How might that encourage you in your current circumstances? ([42:20])
The story of Daniel reminds us that “kingdoms rise and fall, but the kingdom of God prevails.” How does this perspective change the way you view current events, politics, or personal crises? ([40:25])
The sermon challenged us to intentionally seek God’s kingdom first—through prayer, Scripture, worship, and community. What is one specific step you can take this week to align your life more closely with God’s will? ([45:09])

Sermon Clips

We can still have hope, but even when we still have hope, we can take a moment to pause and acknowledge the feelings that we're having, the anxieties, the grief, the anger, the confusion, the frustration, all of that, and we can give it to God, knowing that, again, this is what we're talking about this morning, but knowing he is sovereign, which can feel, it's said flippantly. So we don't say that flippantly. Because sometimes it's said in a day, like, well, God is in control, so let's not be upset, or let's not be worried. But I'm saying, it's okay for us to acknowledge the things that we're feeling, and to say, God, our hearts are breaking for this, for the people, for ourselves, and for the people impacted. [00:03:54]

Part of the reason for taking the young men, the ones who are without defect, who are smart and wise, who are of royal lineage, is he's taking them in, and now the purpose of bringing those men in is to assimilate them into the Chaldean culture, to make them Chaldeans, because then they will work for him. And he basically gets to say to Jehoiakim, I took the best of your people, and now they work for me, and I get the benefit of them. Right? So that's where we are. That's what's happening. [00:14:46]

So this is not just like, Hey, we don't know how to say that because it's in a different tongue. So can we call you this nickname? This is intentional control and manipulation over these men to change everything about themselves. So they no longer carry the identity that they were born with and that they had lived with, but instead they're redefined in every way to show their submission and dependence upon their captors. It's terrifying and awful. [00:26:32]

I don't know about you. I don't know how you act when you're in a situation where someone's trying to tell you what to think or how to speak or what weird, how to live your life or what your identity is. I hate being misunderstood. I hate being misrepresented. There's something in me that's like when I, when I know there's been a misunderstanding that I want to go try to fix it, then I typically make it worse because then it feels like I'm making excuses, but I'm actually just trying to know this is, that's not who I am. That's not what I do. Right. And we want to fight back at it and we want, but these men are in a position where they have been conquered and removed bodily from everything that they had. They have no control and they have no power. [00:27:10]

And in this moment, he's trusting God because there's no way that he on his own can defy the orders of the king. We see that from the response that, that comes from the commander. Daniel has made up his mind that he will speak the words of God, that he will learn from God, that he will be nourished by God. He will find his identity in God and he will serve God alone. And that's what happens when he says, no, I can I have permission to do differently, to be different than what you're demanding of me. They were trying to change his language and his wisdom and his allegiance and his identity. And he resisted them in this moment. [00:29:18]

Because they are trying to say, you need to trust in our God. You need to be connected to our God. You need to forget everything you knew in the past. You are dependent upon us for everything you need. And Daniel says, no, I am dependent upon God for everything I need. He is my provider. He is the one who I trust to give me everything. And I trust that if I put my faith in him, that he will supply everything I need. Right? [00:32:24]

He is basically saying, I know my God will provide for me. I am putting my trust in him. I am focusing on him. And you will see the difference in us at that moment. Right? This is a big risk. Because if the king, so there is not a definitive test here. Right? It is not like he can look and go, oh, we took your blood and yeah, all your vitamins are good and everything is good. We have definitive results to show the difference. This is all speculative and it is all based on the decision of the commander. He could even hold a grudge against Daniel for defying the orders and decide, I don't care if you look better or not. I am still going to kill you. Right? Like this is a big risk for him to step out and do this. [00:33:17]

What Jesus is saying in all of this is God is in control. God is sovereign. Regardless of who thinks they're in control, regardless of who thinks they have the power and the authority and they get to define you and they get to say how you live your life and what's right and what's wrong and what is good knowledge and what is bad knowledge. What Jesus is saying is God is in control. He has overcome the world. And what Daniel is saying is my God is in control. You think you're in control of me, but my God is in control. Right? Already God has given him favor with the commander. [00:34:41]

Notice Jesus is not denying the need for food or clothing or provision. He is not denying that there are, he's not saying don't worry because there's nothing to worry about because what you care about is not a big deal. He doesn't say that. He's not, he's not denying that people go hungry or have needs or have desires. What he's saying instead is God is in control and he knows everything that you need. And he loves you and will provide. [00:35:23]

God gave them wisdom. God gave them knowledge. God gave them knowledge at the end of three years of assimilation and all of the process that was supposed to turn them into Chaldeans. What were their names again at the end of that? Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They resisted. They maintained their identity. They maintained their connection with God. And they came out superior to everyone else. [00:37:17]

God says to Nebuchadnezzar, you tried to bring my things of worship. You tried to take the things that I value, my people, and turn them to show that you have defeated me. And instead, I've defeated you in your very own house. They're 10 times better at the job they're supposed to do. They retained everything about who they were to be because they remained connected to and focused on the actual kingdom of God. The actual ruler of the world. Right? [00:37:56]

When Jesus said to his disciples to put first the kingdom of God, you can't think first of the kingdom without thinking first who's the ruler of that kingdom. It requires you to remember that there is an authority over all that is superior to everything. [00:38:36]

He continued through all of those things because of the things that God gave him. He endured and persevered through regime changes, through political intrigue, later as we continue reading through literal death threats and attempts, right? Because God gave them everything that they needed to be able to pursue through their exile and captivity. [00:40:16]

But really, when you look at it, none of the dates or times or people perfectly match anyone. But that's because I think what the book of Daniel shows us is that kingdoms will rise and kingdoms will fall, but the kingdom of God prevails over everything. That's the hope that we see. [00:41:11]

But instead kingdoms rise and fall. But the kingdom of God has prevailed through it all, and the people of God have prevailed through it all because they seek first his kingdom. And they get their identity, and they get their wisdom, and they get their direction, and they get their nourishment all from the kingdom of God. [00:42:01]

We can have hope regardless of whatever authority or control or situation we find ourselves, whether it's a personal situation where we feel controlled, or a national or world situation where we feel controlled, and that we have no voice and we have no say, we can continue to seek first his kingdom and say, God is on the throne. God is the authority. He is working in the midst of this. [00:42:27]

I thought God was absent. I thought he rejected us. I thought he forgot us. This is where he nourished me. This is where he provided for me. This is where he gave me wisdom. This is where he reminded me of my name and who I am in him. Right? This is what the book of Daniel does for us. It's in the midst of persecution and conflict and crisis. How do we continue to have hope? I love it. [00:44:11]

So what does it look like to seek his kingdom first? It means that we make up our mind to place his authority above all else. We choose to submit our will and our actions to God, trusting his wisdom and his plans over our own. [00:44:39]

We make up our minds, like Daniel did, to not be defiled. Right? That's as simple as that and as complex and multifaceted as that. And that's the beautiful thing about God. He can say, seek first the kingdom of God and everything else you need will be given to you. And so we say, okay, I'm seeking you first. And we learn more and more as we do it what that looks like and what that means to have all of these things given to us. [00:46:05]

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