Leaving This Den Unharmed

       I was doing my morning reading in a women's devotional Bible yesterday morning when one of the devotionals caught my eye as I was flipping through to find what I was supposed to read that day.. It wasn't in my daily reading but I stopped and read the verse. It was Daniel 6:23, "The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God." (NIV) That got me to wondering what it will be like when my King, and hopefully yours, pulls me out of the den of iniquity that is this world.
       According to previous text the king spent a restless night after placing Daniel in the lion's den. This den was a pit Daniel was lowered into and it was full of hungry lions and empty of a means of escape. It grieved the king to invoke the punishment for the breaking of the law. He was overjoyed at the beginning of verse 23 because he found Daniel alive. Now God doesn't need sleep but I think it does grieve Him that sin has placed this punishment upon us and part of that punishment is separation from Him. One day He is returning and I hope He looks down into the pit and mire and finds me spiritually alive.
       Knowing if I will be spiritually alive when He comes requires some self-reflection. It says Daniel was found unharmed because he trusted God, not because God was trust worthy (thought of course He is) or because of God's Grace and Mercy (although that is certainly true) but BECAUSE HE TRUSTED HIS GOD. Self reflection sometimes asks harsh questions. Do I trust God? Do I really trust God? What came to me as I read that verse yesterday was that if I really trust God, then when I get Home I will be found spiritually unharmed.
      My physical body hurts and has been injured and been labeled defective but I'm leaving it behind. What matters  for Eternity is my spiritual being. I've had my hurts, my doubts, my fears but have they left lasting scars? I don't think so. He isn't called the Great Physician for nothing. He can mend those broken places and make them whole and take away the lingering reminders. If I let Him.
       So maybe it's not the question that is harsh but the answer. "Lord, have I let You work in my life?"