A big reason I love reading the Old Testament is the rich tradition of storytelling, which became the writings. The stories were not just meant to pass on historical fact, nor just fictional fables to get little kids to do the right thing. They were real people, experiencing real events, that would give the listener, and eventually us, insight into how we are to live.

One of my super-stud heroes is Daniel. He (and his friends) did a lot of pretty amazing things: he was attractive, studious, trustworthy, excelled in nearly everything he did, became a part of the King’s court, interpreted dreams, always (nonviolently) stood up for his faith, shut the mouths of lions, saw visions of the future . . . pretty awesome.

But what really amazes me is that the one thing he really desired was to see his people Israel restored. And he never got to see it happen.

Israel had been bad. Really bad. And God allowed them to be conquered and taken into captivity by Babylon. Jerusalem and the temple, the two dearest things to the Jewish people, would be destroyed. This was not how it was supposed to be. Daniel was broken, and cried out that God would once again cleanse and restore His people.

We tend to have this idea that God will give us anything and everything we want as long as it’s honoring to Him. The truth is, that’s not truth. Yes, God wants to give us the desires of our heart, but He also wants His will to be done, and He wants us on board.

Daniel was the righteous guy. If anyone at that time deserved to get what they asked for it was him. Yet God would wait to restore Israel until after Daniel’s death. For whatever reason it wasn’t the right time.

This gives me hope. People tend to think that God doesn’t give them something because they’re doing something wrong. Or, people think they deserve what they’re asking from God and get pissed when He doesn’t give it to them. And then they walk away.

In that moment, by all human rationale, Daniel had every reason to walk away from God. He was asking for something that would be honoring to God, he was doing everything right, and yet God wouldn’t answer. But instead Daniel holds onto the hope that God listens and restoration is coming, even if the time and the means doesn’t make sense. Maybe God “disappointed” him a little by our standards, but He gave Daniel something greater to hope in.

So what will I do when God doesn’t answer? When, in that moment, everything inside me says, “He doesn’t care, just walk away.” Maybe I should remember all the amazing things God has done and realize that He truly is faithful, and His will be done.

Of course, it always helps when God sends an angel with a message. But I’m not holding my breath.