“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.“As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.” (Daniel 7:13–15 ESV)
My family and I anxiously watched the second match of the Seattle Sounders playoff game versus Houston. The match was during worship, so we recorded it. After avoiding the media all day, we were home watching the soccer game with anticipation. The Sounders won the first game and now, if they could pull off this shoot-out, they were advancing to the second round. Penalty kicks are unnerving. The stakes were heightened, and the anxiety was higher. In that anxiety-soaked moment, my son, having seen the score, declared, “This tension is unnerving, and I know who wins.”
Let’s pause and go back to Daniel. I am struck by verse 15, “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.” Daniel witnessed God’s victory as full dominion over the cosmos was given to the Son of Man by the Ancient of Days. God sat on his eternal throne and executed judgment over all empires. One should be in awe or wonder, but Daniel was anxious as the future of reality sat shrouded in mystery.
Anxiety is an uncontrollable emotion. It stirs up the soul and often demands retreat or shutdown. The unknown future and the elements it brings are the root of anxiety. When anxiety takes hold, the last thing on our mind is to make ourselves vulnerable, let alone make any changes. Take a moment and prayerfully re-read verses 13-14.
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Hallelujah! We know how it turns out and have the joy of living and experiencing God’s Kingdom. The Son of Man Daniel saw – we know and love him as Jesus. He became vulnerable to make the Kingdom of God available to us! Knowing the suffering and risk, Jesus was still steadfast and obedient. He was driven by the joy of knowing the reality that lay before him. While vulnerability requires risk, Daniel’s vision informs us that it is a risk worth taking in the end.
As followers, we imitate that same vulnerability as we love and care for others. Anxiety clouds our Kingdom vision. The world cries, “Vulnerability is foolish,” and builds up walls. Yet it is in that vulnerability that we experience the fullness of life with Jesus. Isn’t that better?
Let’s be honest, Kingdom work seems daunting and at times impossible or even foolish. But let us not forget, it is the path our King walked and calls us to walk as well. We were not made for the path of power or an enriched empire; we were made for a humble vulnerability that is willing to sacrifice everything for love.
Blessed is the one who overcomes!
Not only is it worth it, but we know how it all turns out. Our King is victorious, and his path of humble vulnerability overcomes. As David Platt once remarked, we work not for victory but because of victory.
My son stayed through the anxiety of the penalty shots because he knew the Sounders won. While the path of vulnerability is humbling and at times unknown, we do not need to let anxiety hold us back, because we know whose Kingdom stands in the end. Now, more than ever, Jesus’s followers are called to that same simple, humble vulnerability that demonstrates love – at all costs.
Vulnerability and love change everything. It is the path leading to victory. Advent reminds us both of the humble, vulnerable act of God, but it also draws our attention to the victory. So, as we follow Jesus and embrace the path of vulnerability, may we be filled with joy and awe in the victory of our God – the victory Daniel got to see, and we get to read about!
Philip Long is a pastor at Hope Point Church in Tacoma, Washington.