In Difficult Times, Pray, Sleep, Praise

Louise Duval

MA, LPC, LAC, CAC

9/8/2025

I have been doing a Bible study on the book of Daniel, and the focus last week was on the wise and calm way Daniel was able to handle a challenging situation and how that could help us when we face difficult situations. The passage was Daniel 2. Daniel is in exile, and the King of Babylon is threatening to kill all the magicians and astrologers if they cannot tell him what he dreamed and the meaning. God had given Daniel the power to interpret dreams, so he asked the king for time and told him he would do what he was requesting. Daniel had no idea what the dream was, but he trusted God would reveal it. This was literally a life-or-death situation. If Daniel did not interpret the dream, many, including him and some of his closest friends, were going to be killed. The Bible does not tell us that Daniel was filled with anxiety and stayed up all night worrying. Instead, he asked his friends to pray, he prayed, he went to bed, and he got up the next morning praising God and giving Him all the glory.

I think we can apply this in our lives. If I were in Daniel’s shoes, I probably would have been extremely anxious, trying in my own strength to figure out the dream, and sleep very little or not at all. However, in doing that, I would be preventing God from speaking to me. God typically speaks when we are quiet and still before Him. Anxiety often prevents us from hearing God’s voice. Another thing that allowed Daniel to rest is that he knew that no matter where he was, God would listen to his prayer and uphold his cause. (1 Kings 8:44-45). God loves you, He hears your prayers, and when you are going through a difficult time, He will be with you.

In Daniel’s case, God did reveal what he asked for, so maybe it was easier for him to praise God the next day. However, what He revealed was not the best message for Daniel to be delivering to the king. We need to praise God even when our prayers are not answered as we expect. In the very next chapter of Daniel, his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are facing the fiery furnace. They believed God would deliver them, but they vowed to be obedient to Him, even if He did not.  God did deliver them from the furnace unharmed, but they first had to go into the flames. Praise comes from a heart that understands God’s sovereignty.  He is in control, our life is in His hands, and He knows what is best, even if things seem out of control. Praise comes from knowing who God is; it is not based on the outcome.

So, next time you are in a difficult situation, try Daniel’s strategy: Pray and ask trusted people who love the Lord to pray with you. Remain calm: Rest in God’s presence. You can rest because you just gave your situation to the One who is in charge of the universe and knows what is going to happen next. Actually sleep (it is incredible what a difference that makes)! Then, when you wake up, no matter the outcome, praise God!