Among LionsSample

CONTEXT: King Nebuchadnezzar calls on his magicians and astrologers to describe and interpret his dream.

Have you ever felt tasked with doing the impossible? Maybe your parent(s) or boss has unrealistic expectations for you. You’re confronted with their request, given a time frame, and left to figure out the details, and failure is not an option. For some, the challenge is invigorating, a chance to prove yourself, while others are immediately overwhelmed by fear and pressure.

Last week, we saw Daniel and his friends choose to live fully surrendered to God despite their fears. In turn, God found favor with them, elevating them to highly influential positions in the kingdom even while still being captives of war.

Now we find the king has called on his magicians and enchanters to do the impossible – both describe and interpret a dream without any details about the dream. Nebuchadnezzar challenged the wisest men in the kingdom to help him understand the message, but they’re quickly overwhelmed, knowing what he was demanding was impossible. He then sentences them to death until Daniel assumes the challenge and saves them.

He and his friends immediately prayed for God’s mercy and wisdom. They didn’t rely on their own strength, intelligence, strategy, influence, or leadership. Only through God’s revelation would Daniel be able to describe and interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

When faced with challenging situations or circumstances, we’re tempted to rely on family, friends, therapists, or social media for the answer. While all these are good and have their place, they shouldn’t supersede seeking God. Often, it’s not until we’ve exhausted every other avenue, wasted valuable time, and become desperate that we finally turn to God.

Daniel understood that God was the source of wisdom. We don’t have to know all the details, predict the ending, or depend on our strength, wisdom, or ingenuity to accomplish impossible goals. When we learn to lean on God’s wisdom rather than our own, our faith and trust grow, and we become more spiritually mature.

CONSIDER THIS:

1. Think about the last time you felt overwhelmed by a task or decision. Where did you instinctively turn for help? Friends? Social media? Google? Spouse? God? Why did you choose that resource?

2. What keeps you from fully trusting God or seeking His wisdom first? Why do you fall back on your “own understanding”?

3. Write a prayer thanking God for His wisdom. Ask Him to help you as you learn to rely on Him to direct your steps.