When You Have a Crisis

When we are struggling, when things are hard, when we have a crisis?  What is the first thing we do?  How do we try to fix it?  So often we try to take care of it on our own.  In my experience, this can often lead to disaster.  Sometimes they work out for a while, but most of the time we find out that we need help.  Why don’t we start there?  We trust God.  Do we show it?  Is God our priority?  Do we turn to Him fist for everything?  As I was reading Daniel this week, I realized there is a lot we can learn from him:In the beginning of Daniel, God allowed Israel to be overtaken by the great empire of Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar was king.  Israel had turned their back on God, disobeyed him and broke their covenant.  So, the people were exiled to Babylon.  The king had chosen the best, wisest, best looking men from Israel to become his personal slaves, including Daniel.  One day Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that disturbed him.  It was a message from God, though the king did not recognize or acknowledge God but practiced all kinds of evil and turned to many gods.  So he asked all his advisors, including magicians, soothsayers and the like to tell him what his dream was and the interpretation.  None of them could so he was furious and was intent to kill all his “wise men,” advisors and servants near to him.  This included those from Israel, including Daniel.  So, what did Daniel do?  How did he respond to this crisis?

Daniel 2:14-24

Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.

So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Daniel sought godly counsel from other believers, and asked them all to pray and he prayed to God.  It was kind of like an early prayer chain!  Afterwards he acknowledged God’s goodness and praised Him for answering his prayer.

Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

For wisdom and might are His.

And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise

And knowledge to those who have understanding.

He reveals deep and secret things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

And light dwells with Him.

“I thank You and praise You,

O God of my fathers;

You have given me wisdom and might,

And have now made known to me what we asked of You,

For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”

What is going on in your life today?  Who do you seek through your crisis?  Big or small, God will listen.  Sometimes He speaks through other godly people.  Sometimes the answer may be in His Word.  Sometimes we need to wait on the Lord.  Sometimes His answer may not be what we want, but it is always the better way.  He will be with us, He will get us through it.  And, we will be better and stronger in the end.  So, trust God.  Start with Him.  Make God your priority in everything you do.