Do you look for opportunities when there is an unexpected change in your life? Or do you become depressed? I have to admit; I dislike change. With all change comes the challenge to adapt, learn and apply new skills, and look for new opportunities. But when you let your thoughts dwell on the uncertainties, what-ifs, and what you don’t like, you become depressed. When I think of life-changing situations that were challenging, I think about Joseph and Daniel.
Joseph was from a very wealthy family and was 13-16 years old when His brothers sold him to Egyptian traders to be a slave. That would make anyone depressed. Read my post called Example of Suffering Well and God’s Response: Part 2 of Suffering Well to learn how Joseph adapted with grace to the challenges of change in his life and how God blessed him.
In this post, we will look at the major life changes Daniel faced and how he kept his focus on his faith and not the things he didn’t like going on around him. When he was between the ages of 12-15, the Babylonians took him and others captive. But, because he was from a family of nobility, he was trained in the Chaldean culture and groomed to be an administrator over the other enslaved Jews. How would you react to being taken to a foreign country as a captive? Would you adapt to the change with grace?
What held Daniel together was the principles he learned from his Jewish faith. He kept his focus on pleasing God. He resolved, with the other Jewish boys, to avoid conforming to the habits of idolaters and “polluting” themselves by customs forbidden by their religion. So, Daniel implored the chief Eunuch to only feed them vegetables and water. God blessed them with better health and strength than the other captives in training who ate the King’s special food and wine. Will you resolve not to defile your body with processed foods that cause weakness? Read why in my post on being free from infirmity strongholds.
Daniel resolved to obey God and embraced the challenges of change with grace. God blessed him with great wisdom, which caused four different Kings from four empire changes to keep Daniel as their advisor and head administrator. From the time they took him captive, he stayed focused on his mission to pray three times a day for his nation. He kept his thoughts on God’s deliverance and grace. When he was set-up by jealous men and thrown into a lion’s den, he trusted God, and an angel shut the lion’s mouths. Will you trust God and keep your mind stayed on Him during the hardships and changes in your life?
Daniel lived according to the principles of God during adversity, and he succeeded. Do you have principles you have resolved to live by no matter what changes or hardships you might have to endure? Read my post on how to develop a mission statement for your life.
What principles guide your life and help you meet the challenges of change with grace?
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P.S.: Experiencing lasting change in your life depends on having a right relationship with God the Father through believing in His Son Jesus Christ and obeying His command to love (1 John 3).
Hope for Complete Healing 