I imagine that most of us would probably prefer to avoid being thrown into a den of hungry lions against our will. Nor would we enter voluntarily into what looks like certain destruction!

This likely was also true in biblical times for Daniel, whose story describes a time under King Darius when being thrown into a den of lions was punishment for refusing to acknowledge the king as a god (see Daniel 6). Daniel continued to follow the First Commandment—to worship the one God he knew to be the only true God. And although the king had been tricked into meting out this punishment against his own personal wishes, Daniel’s profound trust in Love, God, to hold control over all protected him and the lions. The king celebrated with Daniel God’s saving power and the Love that held control and secured good for all. 

Interestingly, Daniel’s prayers did not keep him from having to enter the lions’ den. But his understanding of God’s power gave him the spiritual realization that there was no lions’ den—no real danger, even in the place that seemed most dangerous. He could go through this experience and be safe. Daniel brought such a sense of Love’s control over him, and all, that the ferocity of fear was neutralized. “Understanding the control which Love held over all, Daniel felt safe in the lions’ den, . . .” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 514).