The Hope of Exiles

We live in a cultural moment where following Jesus no longer feels like “home-court advantage.” Much like Daniel in Babylon, we find ourselves as exiles — our beliefs about God, humanity, truth, and holiness are often dismissed or resisted. The question is: how do we live faithfully now?

In Daniel 9 and 12, we discover the posture of a creative minority: people who do not hide, assimilate, or rage, but instead embody burden, confession, and hope. Daniel shows us what this looks like. First, when confronted with God’s Word through Jeremiah, he didn’t just analyze it; he responded with prayer and fasting. Scripture is not merely information but God’s invitation to relationship and obedience.

Second, Daniel carried a burden. He refused to numb himself with Babylonian comforts. Instead, he felt the grief of God’s people’s failure and prayed with “weight in his soul.” In our distracted, entertainment-driven culture, the call is to cultivate holy discontent — to let our hearts be stirred by God’s longing for holiness, justice, and love.

Third, Daniel led in confession. Though personally righteous, he prayed, “We have sinned.” He didn’t blame Babylon for being Babylon. He named the sins of God’s people and sought mercy. Confession means agreeing with God about our sin — personally and corporately — trusting His promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9).

Finally, Daniel was given hope. Exile is not the end. God promised resurrection: “Many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake” (Daniel 12:2). Hope is not optimism but “the absolute expectation of coming good, based on the character of God.” Jesus carried our burden, became our confession on the cross, and rose as our living hope. This is what steadies us to live faithfully in exile.