“I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.”
Being a scientist of sorts, I can remember leaving class and completely understanding what the professor was speaking about, and also those times where I left class and did not have a clue what he was talking about. Even though I was paying attention and writing notes like my life depended on it, the understanding of the material was nowhere near my brain, in short, I was exhausted and completely lost.
Daniel has another vision. It had goats and rams and horns, and they fought. One ruled over the other. Some horns were broken off, and more grew back. Wow, what the heck is he talking about? God tells Gabriel to give Daniel the meaning of this vision in verse 16 of chapter 8. Daniel listens and listens while prostrating on the ground. Gabriel picks him up and explains the rest of the meaning of the dream. After all this is over, verse 27 tells us that Daniel was worn out and exhausted for several days. He gets up and shockingly admits the vision was beyond understanding. Wait, I thought Gabriel just told him the meaning. Isaiah 55:9 tells us, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
I would be lying if I said I understood everything. Just like in class, writing notes like my life depended on it, I still came away with limited understanding. Walking away from class without completely getting the lesson did not make me quit the class because I thought the professor was a quack, rather, it made me dive in more. The only thing I came out of class with was that the professor got it and I did not, so I would have to study deeper and maybe go see him to answer any questions I had.
You may not be able to completely understand where the Lord has you currently or even why, but that is OK. Proverbs 20:24 says, “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” I will bet you never read that verse. I know once I did read it, I put my trust in the Lord who is the author of tomorrow.
Today if you don’t understand your current situation or are exhausted by trying to understand why, you need to rest in the Lord. Matthew 11:29-30 says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Spend more time today understanding Jesus and reading your Bible. Read a chapter in Proverbs. Let the Lord direct your steps while being about the Father’s business. Just like Daniel got up and went back to doing things for the king, we have to get back to our lives and keep living and doing, and let the Lord direct our steps. Don’t stop and quit life just because you cannot understand how things will play out. Trust in the Lord. It is OK to be exhausted, just don’t quit.
Prayer: Father, help me to never quit on trusting you. Help me to never turn my back on knowing you are directing my steps. I pray for peace, patience, and direction, and when none of those seem to be present, I pray that I would dive into your word and trust that even though I may not understand everything, I know you are with me and that you are guiding me even though I don’t seem to see it. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let It Go 
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