Dream Team

He changes times and seasons;
   he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
   and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
   he knows what lies in darkness,
   and light dwells with him.
—Daniel 2:21-22 NIV

A forest thick with pine trees spread before me like an ocean. Fortunately, I could remain just above the canopy as long as I kept flapping my arms. I tried to propel myself forward, away from danger but was too tired to make much progress. Somehow, I knew I would be safe if I could keep myself from dipping below the tree line. With clenched teeth, I bobbed up and down with each flap of my arms. “Keep going,” I told myself, “And I’ll be safe.” Still, the monster snapped at my toes, threatening to swallow me up as soon as I stopped.

I had this dream often as a child. Yet, I see now how it reflected the constant state of fear I felt when I was awake—waiting for the proverbial “other shoe to drop” when my mother lost her temper or my dad came home intoxicated. Even when there was no immediate danger, I knew the monster of insecurity could swallow me up at any given moment.

In the book of Daniel, we read a similar story of the haunting power of a disturbing dream that visited King Nebuchadnezzar. Desperate, he called his wise men and asked them to identify and interpret his astonishing dream. Since none of them could perform this unreasonable task, the king ordered they all be killed, including Daniel. But after praying with his friends, God blessed Daniel through a vision, allowing him to experience the same dream as Nebuchadnezzar. How extraordinary! Remarkably, Daniel approached the king by faith because …Then, God used the result of this experience to save all the wise men (not just Daniel and his friends) and elevate Daniel to power. Daniel gave God all the glory by proclaiming:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
—Daniel 2:20-23 NIV

Regardless of my childhood nightmares, I know now that God is my stronghold, and I am part of the same dream team as Daniel. I don’t have to flap my arms in desperation; I can trust God. Whether I live in a war zone or peaceful New Hampshire, I will not fear because God is with me. Whether under the authority of one administration or another, I know God is the One who “deposes kings and raises up others.” Whether I have little or much, God meets all my needs through Christ Jesus. Whether my life is threatened by man or disease, my hope is in the One who “reveals deep and hidden things.”

May the God of all creation rescue you today and meet your needs, whatever they are.

Father, thank you for reminding me that You use ordinary men as vessels of life and for this story of dreamers who were faithful to the end. Amen.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing, that you may abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13 NJKV).

Marlene McKenna

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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