Are You Anchored?
By Ryan Dawson
I watched the news last night, and I’ll be honest it was unsettling.
Stories of global tension filled the screen: talk of Trump taking over Greenland by force, the ongoing horrors of the conflict in Gaza, growing instability in Iran, and our own Prime Minister calling world leaders to unite under the threat of oppressive power. As I took it in, I felt uneasy and burdened by the weight of it all.
But in that moment, the Lord gently brought my heart back to a conversation we were having earlier that evening at our Impact Community gathering. We were reflecting on Sunday’s message and the life of Daniel.
Daniel lived in profoundly unstable times. He faced intense political pressure, cultural hostility, and even real threats to his life. He served under King Nebuchadnezzar, a ruler who was volatile, unpredictable, and capable of devastating decisions on a whim. The world Daniel lived in felt anything but secure, and the stakes were incredibly high.
Yet in the midst of uncertainty and fear, Daniel didn’t spiral into panic or despair. He turned to the God he knew well.
When God revealed the king’s dream, Daniel’s first response wasn’t self-congratulation or strategic planning—it was worship. Scripture tells us:
“Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said,
‘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…’”
Daniel 2:19–23 (NLT)
In a chaotic world, Daniel anchored himself in the character of God.
God is wise.
God is powerful.
God is sovereign.
Kings and leaders rise and fall. Empires and powers come and go. But history is not spinning out of control—it is unfolding according to God’s wise and perfect plan.
When we look at the confusion and turmoil of our own world, we need this same reminder. Not to numb ourselves to pain or ignore injustice, but to remember who God is, and who we are as citizens of His eternal Kingdom.
Scripture assures us that God’s plan is not only sovereign; it is hopeful. God will have the last word, and it will be good! The Bible gives us a glimpse of where history is ultimately heading in Revelation 21:3-7 (NLT)
“Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children."
What a vision of our future! Knowing that our all-loving, all-wise, and all-powerful God will one day bring us fully home, and make all things new, gives us deep comfort and steady hope in the season we find ourselves in.
God is faithful. And because He is faithful, we do not need to live in fear. Our future is secure, not because the world is stable, but because the One who holds the future is — "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) So, like Daniel, let’s place our trust in our God who is utterly trustworthy. In uncertain and unsteady days, Christ remains our sure and unshakable anchor.
For Christ and His Kingdom,
Blessings,
Ryan
I watched the news last night, and I’ll be honest it was unsettling.
Stories of global tension filled the screen: talk of Trump taking over Greenland by force, the ongoing horrors of the conflict in Gaza, growing instability in Iran, and our own Prime Minister calling world leaders to unite under the threat of oppressive power. As I took it in, I felt uneasy and burdened by the weight of it all.
But in that moment, the Lord gently brought my heart back to a conversation we were having earlier that evening at our Impact Community gathering. We were reflecting on Sunday’s message and the life of Daniel.
Daniel lived in profoundly unstable times. He faced intense political pressure, cultural hostility, and even real threats to his life. He served under King Nebuchadnezzar, a ruler who was volatile, unpredictable, and capable of devastating decisions on a whim. The world Daniel lived in felt anything but secure, and the stakes were incredibly high.
Yet in the midst of uncertainty and fear, Daniel didn’t spiral into panic or despair. He turned to the God he knew well.
When God revealed the king’s dream, Daniel’s first response wasn’t self-congratulation or strategic planning—it was worship. Scripture tells us:
“Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said,
‘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…’”
Daniel 2:19–23 (NLT)
In a chaotic world, Daniel anchored himself in the character of God.
God is wise.
God is powerful.
God is sovereign.
Kings and leaders rise and fall. Empires and powers come and go. But history is not spinning out of control—it is unfolding according to God’s wise and perfect plan.
When we look at the confusion and turmoil of our own world, we need this same reminder. Not to numb ourselves to pain or ignore injustice, but to remember who God is, and who we are as citizens of His eternal Kingdom.
Scripture assures us that God’s plan is not only sovereign; it is hopeful. God will have the last word, and it will be good! The Bible gives us a glimpse of where history is ultimately heading in Revelation 21:3-7 (NLT)
“Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children."
What a vision of our future! Knowing that our all-loving, all-wise, and all-powerful God will one day bring us fully home, and make all things new, gives us deep comfort and steady hope in the season we find ourselves in.
God is faithful. And because He is faithful, we do not need to live in fear. Our future is secure, not because the world is stable, but because the One who holds the future is — "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) So, like Daniel, let’s place our trust in our God who is utterly trustworthy. In uncertain and unsteady days, Christ remains our sure and unshakable anchor.
For Christ and His Kingdom,
Blessings,
Ryan