Remember the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den?
It’s not really about the lions
What landed Daniel in that den was his defiant act of prayer
Prayer that was illegal
Done right in an open window where everyone could see

A subversive act of resistance that testified to all
That his God was greater than the king.
That his God was more powerful than any empire.
That his God was worth risking the lions for.
And it is in this same God that our hope lies.

Hope for healing
Hope for reconciliation
Hope for an end to white supremacy
Hope for a vaccine
Hope for better days
Hope for better ways

May our prayers be subversive acts of resistance against the forces that tell us that:

We are powerless to change things
We aren’t worthy
We cannot overcome despair
and
We live in an empire that is more powerful than our God.

Lies, I tell you.
All lies.

Our hope is in the Almighty God
Our hope is in the power of Jesus Christ, who was and is and is to come.
Our hope is in the wildly unpredictable Holy Spirit that moves in and among us.
Our hope is rooted in the One worth braving the lions for.

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Rev. Anne Russ is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), currently based in New York City. Doubting Believer provides tools and encouragement for the rollercoaster ride of your faith journey. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and YouTube. You can also follow on TikTok. Get emails to keep up with all that is happening.