Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.                Daniel 2:17-19

How to respond when OVERWHELMING situations blindside us

• DENIAL Doesn’t Help; It Only Hurts

• We Can’t Do Life   ALONE

• Choose the right PEOPLE

• Have a greater VIEW of ourselves

• Give God control to receive control

“Your greatest opportunity to grow the Kingdom of God will likely come out of your hurt.”         Perry Noble

Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, & light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”    Daniel 2: 20-23                                                        

Soak and Share

Here are some practical ways you can apply today’s message and share them with others.

MEMORY VERSES: John 16: 33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 PRAYER:

Sometimes I feel like I can’t go on. The situations are too much for me, and I know that I don’t have the strength on my own to get through this. Please, Lord, give me the strength that I need to face today and not to worry about tomorrow. Help me to keep my eyes on you. You are the Holy Lord, and all of my hope rests in you. Amen

ASK & REFLECT:

• Are there any situations that you can’t trust God in? What difference does trusting God make, when you are going through a difficult situation?

• Think of the major difficult situations you have been through in your life. What did you learn from each of these difficult situations? About God? About yourself? About life? Is your thinking about these situations different now (afterwards) than it was at the time when you were going through them?

NEXT STEPS:

• This week make a list of anything that makes you feel good, or reminds you of the positive aspects of your life (things you are grateful for, goals, music, inspiration quotes, scriptures or prayers, etc.). When times are tough, reflect back on this list for encouragement and inspiration.

• READ & REFLECT: Daniel’s Prayer (Daniel 2: 20-23), Challenge yourself by reading this prayer everyday for one week.