孫兒們翻閱我高中的畢業紀念冊，對照片中過時的髮型、服裝及舊式車款，嘖嘖稱奇。但我看到的並不是這些，我最先看到的是多年好友的笑容，有些至今仍保持聯繫。不僅如此，我還看見上帝以大能保守我，在我努力融入的那所學校裡，祂溫柔地陪伴在我身邊。祂一直以慈愛看顧我，這慈愛也同樣賜給凡尋求祂的人。

但以理知道上帝一直與他同在。在但以理被擄到巴比倫期間，即使大利烏王頒布禁令，不允許任何人向上帝禱告，但以理依然在自家樓上，打開那扇朝向耶路撒冷的窗戶，向上帝禱告（但以理書6章7-10節）。但以理的禱告使他記得上帝一直與他同在、扶持他，並且垂聽及回應他的呼求。而上帝確實再次垂聽、回應並扶持但以理。

儘管有新的禁令，但以理仍不計後果，繼續尋求上帝的同在。他一日三次在上帝面前禱告稱謝，像往日一樣（10節）。當他被丟進獅子坑裡時，這位信實的上帝差遣使者來保護他，使他平安脫離險境（22節）。

在面對挑戰時回顧過去，能幫助我們記得上帝的信實。後來連大利烏王也稱頌這位上帝，表明祂「護庇人、搭救人，在天上地下施行神蹟奇事」（27節）。無論那時或現在，上帝依然慈愛良善。祂會與你同在，看顧保守你。

Looking at my high school yearbook, my grandchildren marveled at outdated hairstyles, clothing, and “old-fashioned” cars in the photos. I saw something different—first the smiles of longtime buddies, some still friends. More than that, however, I saw the keeping power of God. His gentle presence surrounded me in a school where I struggled to fit in. His keeping goodness watched over me—a kindness He grants to all who seek Him.

Daniel knew of God’s keeping presence. In his exile in Babylon, he prayed in “his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem” (Daniel 6:10) despite the king’s decree not to do so (vv. 7-9). From his prayerful vantage point, Daniel would remember God whose keeping presence sustained him—hearing and answering his prayers. Thus, God would hear, answer, and sustain him again.

Yet, despite the new law, Daniel would still seek God’s presence regardless of what might happen to him. And so he prayed just as he had done so many times before (v. 10). While in the lions’ den, an angel of the Lord kept Daniel safe as his faithful God rescued him (v. 22).

Looking to our past during present trials may help us recall God’s faithfulness. As even King Darius said of God, “He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth” (v. 27). God was good then, and He’s good now. His presence will keep you.