In a difficult situation? This short message illustrates how important it is to focus on God and stay true to him. Be encouraged, knowing that God loves you and that you are never alone.

Hard times may occur in your life, but that is no indication that God is not with you in your time of need.

If you’re struggling, this short message is for you. Know that you are not alone even though things may seem dark and overwhelming right now, and you may feel unsure of what’s coming next.

When you find yourself in a valley or some dark place, such as a sickness or feeling depressed, a spiritual attack or a loss of some kind, it’s not the place you find yourself in that is important so much as the one who is with you.

When you are feeling down or depressed, look up and call out to Jesus. He is present in your situation.

Keep your focus on God; he is on your side.

Impossible Situations

Have you heard of the two stories in the book of Daniel about Daniel in the lion’s den and the three Hebrews being thrown into the fiery furnace?

They each found themselves in difficult and seemingly impossible situations because they stood firm in what they believed. They worshiped and prayed to God almighty without reservation, with all their hearts.

• Both stories are faith building.

• Both stories reveal the power of God.

• Both stories give glory to God.

• Both stories reveal a heart true to God.

Daniel lives were not easy. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Jerusalem and brought some young men who were gifted in wisdom and understanding back to Babylon to serve the king; this included Daniel and his three friends. As young teenagers, these four were taken captive and shipped off to Babylon and were placed in training for three long years. After the three years, Daniel and the others went before the king. Daniel and his three friends were found to be ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in the king’s realm.

Daniel and his friends had become well informed in literature, wisdom, and understanding. They were taught the ways of Babylon, but their hearts remained true to God.

“The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.” (Daniel 1:7-21, NIV).

In a difficult situation? Focus on God.

From the beginning, Daniel set in his heart to focus on God and remained faithful in every way. As a captive, Daniel was to be trained in the ways and customs of Babylon and he had no grounds on which to bargain one way or another.

The names of Daniel and the other three were changed; most likely it was a way of stripping away their previous identity to integrate them into Babylonian ways. But Daniel and his three friends chose to remain set apart to God in their hearts regardless of the oppressive training and influence of Babylon.

Society may try to change you, but they have no control over your heart unless you allow them.

After three years, Daniel and his friends might have looked different outwardly, but inwardly they remained true to God. Daniel may have been taught a different way to think; however, that did not appear to change what he believed in his heart. Daniel waisted no time in requesting not to eat or drink the rich foods of Babylon. The four of them chose to remain set apart and purposed not to defile themselves by eating foods provided by the king. They knew all too well to avoid the seduction of compromise and ungodly lifestyle. They chose to remain true to God.

Stay true to God regardless of your cicumstances; he is with you.

If you read the entire book of Daniel, you’ll see that Daniel and his friends were very respectful to the king and those in authority over them.

Like Daniel, we may find ourselves in situations out of our control. But that should never change how we respond to others. If we are treated badly, that is no excuse to act awful to them or take revenge on them. Daniel allowed God to deal with those people. In resolving not to defile himself, God gave Daniel favor with the one who oversaw his care.

Reading these few verses takes only several minutes but for Daniel it was over three years from the time they were taken captive until they were brought before king Nebuchadnezzar and found to be wise beyond all the others in the king’s court. Daniel remained in the service of several kings during the remainder of his lifetime in Babylon.

I want to inspire and encourage you to always remain true to God no matter your circumstance. God is with you.

Daniels’s life was not always easy. He had enemies and they wanted him dead, but God blessed and delivered Daniel from his enemies in Babylon. Daniel remained true to God even if it might have cost him his life.

God will never leave you.

Daniel did nothing to cause himself to be captured and to be taken to Babylon. He did nothing wrong.

Sometimes you may find yourself in a difficult situation due to no fault of your own, much like Daniel. It is in times like that, when your faith is tested, that you must decide to remain faithful and true to God or spiritually fold under the temptation to compromise what you believe in to save yourself.

Hard times may occur in your life, but that is no indication that God is not with you in your time of need. God may simply use your situation for his Glory, and you will be blessed in every way.

Daniels’s captivity and situation was awful, yet God used Daniel to interpret dreams and to display the power God in Babylon. In doing so, many acknowledged God to be above all other gods! God was always with Daniel and his friends no matter how things looked.

Consider this promise from God:

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

Because of Jesus, your faith in him, and your dedication, passion and obedience to what God calls you to do, you will be with him in paradise.

Because of Daniel’s witness and spiritual steadfastness, even king Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God as God.

The story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den

The leaders of Babylon were jealous of Daniel and attempted to remove Daniel from his position by tricking king Darius to proclamation a decree that a person could only pray to the king and violators would be put to death. Daniel continued to pray to God, and the administrators notified the king of Daniel’s disregard of the king’s decree. The king could not go back on his word, and he had to place Daniel in a lion’s den.

Listen to what king Darius told Daniel:

‘So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”’ (Daniel 6:16).

The next day the king ran to the pit and called out to Daniel:

When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” (Daniel 6:20-22).

Daniel was not alone in the pit that night.

The story of the three in the furnace

You may also recall the fiery furnace and Daniel’s three friends in Daniel 3. King Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into a furnace for not worshiping a gold image. The soldiers who tossed the three into the furnace died from the heat! But look at the king’s response:

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:24-25).

‘Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”’ (Daniel 3:28-29).

The three men were not alone in that furnace.

God loves you and is with you no matter what.

As you read through the bible, be inspired and encouraged, knowing that God loves you and that you are never alone. Even if you feel alone and the circumstance is awful, God is on your side. He is with you always, and he will keep you safe from spiritual harm.

Suggested Praise and Worship

This and other sermons brought to you by Faith Chapel, an Assemblies of God church in Pleasanton, CA.