Atypical AdviceSample

Don’t sleep on God.

Sometimes we are faced with seemingly impossible tasks. High school certainly didn’t teach how to fill out a FASFA, 401K, or even our taxes! It’s also super hard to just go grocery shopping—what color is this supposed to be again? Is it even supposed to be firm? I saw someone smell theirs—should I smell it? Let’s not even start talking about dating challenges or the struggle with making new friends (#foreveralone stays trending for a reason). Adulting is hard. Life is hard. And there are lots of obstacles, tests, and situations that seem insurmountable. 

When people mention Daniel (in relation to the Bible), most people automatically jump in to say, “Oh yeah, Daniel and the Lions’ Den!” It’s a great story. But before he was even in the lions’ den, Daniel did something else that seemed impossible. 

Here’s a quick rundown: King Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream and asked all kinds of people—astrologers, magicians, enchanters, and more—to come interpret it. But he wouldn’t tell them what he had dreamed. They had to first tell him what happened in his dream and then provide an interpretation of it. 

Even though the task seemed impossible (Daniel 2:11), it was also important. The king said if no one told him what he dreamed and what it meant, he’d kill them all. The astrologers even tried to explain how impossible the task was to the king, but that just made him mad and sealed their fate. 

The king sent out a decree to kill everyone who failed to interpret the dream, and Daniel was included in this bunch. 

But do you know what Daniel’s piece of wisdom was? God can do it even when we can’t. 

Instead of panicking or focusing on how he, himself, couldn’t possibly know what the king dreamed or even interpret it, Daniel turned to the one person who he knew could—God. He asked three of his friends to pray, and he prayed all night, asking God for a revelation and pleading for God’s help. 

And God did. Nothing is too hard for God, and nothing is impossible for Him. What man can’t do, God can. And Daniel knew this. When he goes to tell the king his dream and its interpretation, Daniel gives all the credit to God (Daniel 2:27-30). 

And in the Message translation, Daniel refers to God as The Revealer of Mysteries (Daniel 2:29-30). Maybe you’re in a new city and you’re unsure how you’ll find community. Maybe you’re struggling with your finances and you’re uncertain how you’ll make ends meet. Maybe you’re struggling with your health and you’re unsure how you’ll heal and recover. 

But God can give you revelations. He can speak to you directly and through someone else, and He can clarify what is currently confusing. Just ask Him to (and it may take more than just one prayer). 

Whatever your situation, take a page from Daniel’s book and pray. Pray, cry out at the feet of the Father, and ask your friends to do the same. Daniel certainly didn’t pray alone. 

Even if your prayer doesn’t immediately change your circumstances, it changes you. Even if the revelation doesn’t immediately come, prayer releases you. There’s power in prayer. There’s power in community. And there’s power in the name of Jesus. 

Reflect: What seems impossible in your life right now? Have you prayed and asked God to help you overcome whatever feat you may be facing? 

Pray: God, thank You for always listening to me. I’m so thankful that with all Your power and authority, You care about me and You love me. I’m really struggling with ___ right now, and I don’t understand how ______. But You’re the Revealer of Mysteries, and I am asking for Your guidance and direction. Thank You for walking through this with me. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Challenge: Try to get #butGod trending. Put this hashtag into your captions and share how God is doing seemingly impossible things in your life.