Source: BetterMan.org Devotional
“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.” — Daniel 1:1–2
Daniel does not begin his story with Babylon’s power, Nebuchadnezzar’s ambition, or Israel’s failure.
He begins with God’s sovereignty: “The Lord gave…” That single phrase reframes everything. Jerusalem did not fall because God was absent, inattentive, or defeated. It fell because God was active, because He allowed it.
This is one of the hardest truths for modern believers to swallow. We are comfortable with a God who rescues us from trouble, but less comfortable with a God who sometimes leads us into and through it. Yet Scripture is clear: exile can be judgment, discipline, mercy, or preparation [it can be all four at once].
Daniel is removed from his home, his temple, and his culture, but he is not removed from God’s care. In fact, Babylon will become the place where Daniel’s faith is clarified, strengthened, and ultimately displayed. God often strips away external supports so that a man learns where his true confidence lies.
Loss does not mean God has let go. Sometimes it means He is tightening His grip.
Where have you interpreted loss as abandonment instead of assignment?
The BFC Field Test (Mark's Perspective)
This page isn't long enough to list all the times I have felt abandoned by God or thought He was too busy to focus on insignificant me. But now when I think of how much time was I giving to relational conversation with Him, it was negligible.
At Brothers for Christ, after I formed the 501(c)(3) in 2023 out of a fundraising necessity, I did not realize the significance of what was being done by God. My Ugandan brother from another mother- Pastor Musa, has been a constant source of inspiration as he understands the priority of prayer. The more I put God first and this ministry first and before my secular responsibilities, things happen, fruit ripens before our eyes.
Reflection & Action
Name one disruption or disappointment you’ve been resisting. Surrender it to God today without explanation or conditions.