Strong Under Pressure: Wisdom From the Book of Danielনমুনা

Can You Handle the Pressure?

Most of the ocean is too deep to explore without a submarine. That’s because the deeper you go, the more physical pressure you experience. Yet far below the surface, many creatures thrive under intense pressure. How? Because every part of their body is adapted to it.

This Bible Plan isn’t about deep sea exploration, but it is about adapting to pressure. We can learn how to adapt our faith to any kind of pressure it might need to endure. Because, as deep sea fish prove, it’s possible not just to survive but to thrive under pressure.

Doubts, relationships, culture, busyness, and the temptation to fit in all put pressure on our faith. Will we let the pressure crush our faith? Or will we learn to adapt so we can stand strong?

One of the most striking examples of faith holding strong under pressure is the account of Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—better known by their Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Over the next few days, we’ll explore their stories in the Book of Daniel to discover how their faith remained strong in intense circumstances.

But before we dive in to how they dealt with their situation, let’s talk about what kinds of challenges they faced. As you read this list below, consider whether you’ve faced similar pressure to your faith.

Trauma: The Babylonian Empire had just wiped out Daniel’s nation. They killed countless people and deported the most influential people back to Babylon. Imagine being a teenager, witnessing the horrors of war, and then being ripped from your family, friends, and country.

Culture: Daniel had to adapt quickly to a new status quo in Babylon. From day one, he and his friends were pressured to conform to the new world. Not all of their culture was evil—for example, the Babylonians loved gardening—but they did have some practices that didn’t align with Daniel’s values.

Power: Daniel faced pressure from people with much more power than he had. These influential people regularly tried to convince him and his friends to conform to the culture.

Fitting In: If he’d just given in to the pressure to conform, Daniel might have gained influence more quickly and led a more comfortable life. It was probably tempting to try to spare himself from been seen as a weird outsider.

Maybe you’ve experienced trauma that has led to doubts, or you’re struggling to respond to an influential person in your life who is ambivalent or even hostile to your faith. Or you might be struggling with the temptation to compromise in order to fit in.

No matter what it is, name it. Naming the pressure is the first step to addressing it and facing it head on.

Challenge: Consider the pressure facing your faith. Is it doubt—or cultural influences? Write down three or four pressures you’re facing and keep them in mind as you go through this Plan. For some tips on strengthening your faith, check out this article from finds.life.church.

Prayer: God, please help me to grow in strength under pressure. Over the next few days, lead me to identify my weaknesses and look to You for lasting strength. And as my faith grows deeper, let me experience more of Your closeness. In Jesus’ name, amen.