24 Apr: Better the Ball
For he has all wisdom and power. Daniel 2:20
Scripture Reading: Daniel 1:11–16; 2:19–20
It is amazing how a lesson from the volleyball court can mirror a timeless spiritual truth. On her college volleyball team, my granddaughter discovered a “winning principle”: whenever the ball came her way, she committed to “better the ball.” Rather than wasting energy on tantrums, blame, or excuses, she focused entirely on leaving her teammates in a better position than she found them.
This “always improve the situation” mindset perfectly captures how Daniel responded when he and his three friends were dragged into Babylonian captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar. Even after being stripped of their identities and forced into three years of “training” within an enemy palace, Daniel didn’t react with rage. Instead, he quietly sought permission to honor God by avoiding the king’s rich food and wine. As the story unfolds in Daniel 1:12, he requested a ten-day test of eating only vegetables and drinking water. The result? Daniel and his friends “looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king” (verse 15).
Daniel’s grace under pressure didn’t stop there. When Nebuchadnezzar later threatened to execute all the palace wise men because they couldn’t describe and interpret his disturbing dream, Daniel didn’t panic. He turned to the ultimate Source, seeking mercy “from the God of heaven,” and the secret was revealed to him in a vision (2:19). Daniel’s immediate response was one of worship, declaring of God, “for he has all wisdom and power” (verse 20).
All through his time in captivity, Daniel kept choosing faith over fear, and obedience over panic. He kept “bettering the ball,” trusting God even in difficult circumstances. That’s the invitation for us too—when life feels uncertain or unfair, bring it to God and look for how to move things, even slightly, in a better direction.
By: Abigail Peterson
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Reflect & Pray
What battles are you facing now? As you turn from those troubles and seek God, how does He make your journey better?
Loving God, life’s challenges feel overwhelming today. As I turn to You, inspire me to shed my despair to journey better with You.