I just counseled someone who has lost many relations in a matter of 5 or 6 months. They have lost an adolescent who ended up having a really difficult situation happen of their lives, they usually pass away. Only not too long after that, they lost a member of the family, a mother. Not too long after that, they lost an uncle. Plenty of relations should not helping out with all the small print of creating every little thing work, so that they have loads of pressure on them. And then, to top it off, someone very near them ended up with health issues, and now they should be there for that one who lives at their house.
Situations like this are continually happening, they usually may cause us to wonder, ‘Okay, what is going on on?’ Life can come at us that fast, really fast. It could make us feel overwhelmed and hopeless and adopt a way of despair. I understand that those things can happen in your life. It’s not unique that those things occur.
Let’s take a look at the biblical account of Daniel’s life. He was doing what he was presupposed to do. He heard Jeremiah’s message and clearly took it seriously. He decided to dedicate his life to God. He walked 900 miles along with his hands above his head, probably wearing the identical clothes repeatedly for days and months, using the restroom on the side of the road, and eating the soldiers’ slop. And then, when he arrived in Babylon, they shaved his head, placed on an entire different set of garments, and told him where to be and the best way to function in Babylon. No options, no discussion. This goes to be your job. And then, on top of all of that, while you take a look at his life, he’s committed.
“But Daniel was determined to not defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission to not eat these unacceptable foods.” – Daniel 1:8
He was purposed in his heart. He trusted God, and God blessed him. Daniel was committed to his job and every little thing the job asked him to do, just for people to activate him and take a look at to chop him within the back and destroy him and find yourself using his integrity and character against him in order that he results in a lion’s den.
Scripture doesn’t say Daniel slept in a lion’s den. It never said that the lions slept. Could you imagine hungry lions? People who had previously thrown into the lion’s den didn’t hit the bottom before the lions consumed them. That tells you the way starved those lions were for days before they threw people in. That’s how horrific it should have been for Daniel to be in that hole all night long with hungry lions around him. But Daniel kept the religion, though the situation was overwhelming.
I need to challenge you today that when life seems overwhelming, and it’s possible you’ll feel such as you’re in a hole, the Lord is in a position to do exceedingly abundantly all you would ever ask or think. You just should keep your faith in him.
Take one step at a time. God says tomorrow will care for itself. He tells us, through His Word, the best way to operate, with passages that tell us not to fret about tomorrow and to wish without ceasing. God reminds us:
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what’s true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and beautiful, and admirable. Think about things which can be excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—every little thing you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace can be with you.” – Philippians 4:8-9
The account of Daniels’s life reminds us to satisfy anxiety with prayer and never live by what we see. Live by the word of God that you simply imagine.
I trust today that irrespective of what you face in your life, and although situations could also be overwhelming, God is ready. You can do all things through Christ while you put your faith within the very word of God, which is a strong, double-edged sword. I pray that you’re going to wear your armor, walk by faith, put up your shield of religion, keep your sword of the spirit, keep your faith, keep your breastplate of righteousness, and do what God tells you to do irrespective of the pain you face. This is how we work out our salvation in fear and trembling. Whatever you are doing, stick to the reality. It’ll keep your armor on.
I trust that irrespective of when you’re overwhelmed or your struggles are difficult, remember, while you’re in despair, there may be hope while you put your faith and trust in God and proceed to obey those steps I just mentioned. It’s a blessing to serve.
Stay focused. God bless you.
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