You don’t need to go far to see how much the world has strayed from God’s intended design. What God ordains is often condemned, his goodness is perceived as wickedness, and those who claim to follow Christ are made targets of persecution. It seems that following our Savior guarantees us a life of ruin instead of prosperity. The Bible book of Daniel encourages us to think otherwise. In this book we find God-fearing men who thrived without denying their faith despite spending a lifetime exiled within a godless nation. How were they able to prosper in Babylon, and how can we model their godliness as we live in godless societies today?

Root your identity in Christ. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were forced to spend years being rigorously trained and educated in Babylonian culture with the goal of denying the God of Israel and becoming dedicated servants of Baal. Their names were even changed in order to reflect this hope, such as Daniel (“God is my judge”), who became Belteshazzar (“Baal protect the king”) (Daniel 1:3-7). Despite all this, these men lived out their God-given namesakes and remained faithful to God’s commands by not defiling themselves with the king’s food or drink (Daniel 1:8). God blessed their faithfulness by making them the most fit, smart, favorable, and compassionate among the king’s servants.

When you remember whose name you bear and live out your biblical namesake, you can stand firm against the world’s desires, grounded against the waves of this world’s ideologies and pursuits of meaning (Ephesians 4:14). You will shine as a beacon for Christ’s light on people’s darkness.

Give all glory to God. Out of all the wise men and magicians in Babylon, only Daniel was able to interpret the king’s dreams accurately. How did Daniel respond to this supernatural gift? He praised God privately with his friends and publicly before the king. This power could only come from God alone, and Daniel made sure to give that credit where it was properly due in all places (Daniel 2:25-30).

It’s easy to take credit for our work, especially when we benefit from that work. However, no act done by believers could be done without our heavenly Father first acting by giving us his Son. Through faith, every good gift from heaven is an act of thanksgiving we do to glorify God and him alone (James 1:17).

Boldly endure persecution. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah put their lives in danger by refusing to worship the gold image King Nebuchadnezzar set up for himself. Even with the impending furnace roaring before them, they placed their lives in the Lord’s hands, knowing that whether he would deliver them from the fire or not, they were certain of their eternity (Daniel 3:16-18).

Whether your life, reputation, or relationships are at stake, no amount of pain or displeasure is worth comparing to the glory you have in Christ Jesus now and forever (Romans 8:18). You are held securely in your Lord’s hands, and neither death nor life nor anything else in this world will be able to take away the love your Savior has for you (Romans 8:38,39).

Rejoice in God’s faithfulness. Even though Daniel was a faithful believer, he spent the greater part of his life in captivity. Yet we don’t read about any complaints or grudges to return to his home in Israel. Rather, Daniel continued to serve the ever-rotating authorities with his best gifts all while holding fast to the promises of God.

As the world goes through constant and rigorous changes, be assured that God gives us something better than a change in circumstance: He gives us fulfilled and unfailing promises whose effects last throughout eternity. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Lord, we praise you for showing us how we are only able to thrive in this world by reflecting you and your faithfulness to us. No matter our station in life—in safety or in danger, in life and in death—remind us to live out our greatest treasure, found in you alone through Jesus Christ. Amen.