“Then I got up and went about the king’s business.” Daniel 8:27

On the heels of Mark’s sermon this past Sunday about being joy-filled in these anxious times, I was struck as I read this verse this morning. Daniel had many dreams and visions while in exile in Babylon. After one particularly disturbing one, the Bible said he was “exhausted and lay ill for several days.” It even says that he was “appalled by the vision,” because “it was beyond understanding.”

It sounds like maybe…even if not for very long…he was a little anxious, a little stressed out by what the Lord was revealing to him. Now, please don’t get me wrong; I certainly don’t want to add anything that the Scriptures don’t specifically say. But, I’ve got to believe, that, despite the fact that Daniel was a man of great faith and wisdom, he was…human. And, so, I’m thinking that just like you and me, there were times that he really had to get his thoughts and emotions under control. It seems like this was one of those times. He was so overwhelmed by what the future held that he got physically ill – exhausted. Sick and tired! That’s definitely what a lot of stress can do to a person.

But, then the Word says that he “got up and went about the king’s business.” Sometimes, when I hear about all that’s going on in the world and in our own country; when I listen to what people are predicting as they look at economic trends; when I consider that at any moment, I could get a phone call that will turn my life upside-down, I could very easily be sucked in to a pit of despair, fear, and anxiety. And I think to myself: “What’s happening? What’s in store for my kids? What on earth can I do? What difference can I even make? Should I prepare? How?! What if…what if…what if…” And on and on my thoughts could go. How easy it is to spiral out of control.

But you know what? That’s just what the Enemy is hoping for. He’s doing all he can to “kill, steal, and destroy” our faith and hope and effectiveness. If he can take us out of the game by convincing us that we might as well give up and run for cover, he’s already won. 

We can’t stop living! We can’t stop celebrating and rejoicing in all that God has done and in all that He is doing and in all that He will do! We can’t stop living lives of faith and trust and hope and love! We’ve got to get up and be about the King’s business! Maybe I can’t and won’t impact nations, but I can bless my neighbor. Maybe there are times of loss and sorrow and persecution ahead, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t stop and plant flowers today – or bake a batch of cookies – or take a walk. And yes, I do believe that those are all things that the Lord wants us to do and enjoy! He came to give us LIFE and life abundant! (John 10:10) We cannot miss out on the life we have to live today, because we are so full of worry and anxiety about tomorrow.

My kids are hardly ever stressed out or worried. I love that. I love that they are able to trust and rest – I love that they are able to fully embrace each day without thought of tomorrow. They look to their Dad and I with complete faith that if we say so, everything will be alright. Jesus said I am to be like a little child, and He promises that with Him, everything will be alright. So, no worries! We can “get up and be about the King’s business!”