Giving Thanks In The Face Of Trouble

Giving Thanks In The Face Of Trouble | Trust God When The World Pressures You

Posted on by Harvest Church

When the world pressures you to bow or compromise, stand firm like Daniel—pray anyway, trust God anyway, and watch Him turn your trial into a testimony that impacts nations.

VFS

  • Daniel lived with such integrity that his enemies could only attack his faith, not his character.

  • The decree was designed specifically to trap Daniel because of his commitment to God.

  • Daniel refused to change his prayer life even after the law was signed—his devotion was non-negotiable.

  • Darius respected and admired Daniel, but worldly systems still pushed him into enforcing the sentence.

  • God delivered Daniel supernaturally, proving His power to protect the faithful.

  • The miracle changed a nation’s king, who publicly declared that Daniel’s God is the only true and everlasting God.

  • Faithfulness in pressure didn’t just rescue Daniel—it advanced God’s glory and caused Daniel to prosper.

Daniel’s Integrity Tested

Daniel 6 reveals a man whose faithfulness threatened the political elite of the Medo-Persian Empire. Darius appointed governors and satraps throughout the kingdom, but Daniel stood out above them all because “an excellent spirit was in him.” Unable to find fault in his work or character, his enemies concluded that their only path to destroy him was to attack his faith in God.

A Trap to Silence Prayer

A decree was crafted, stating that no one could pray to any god or man except the king for thirty days. Daniel knew the document was signed, yet he did not alter his routine—he opened his window toward Jerusalem and prayed three times a day, just as he always had. His faith was consistent, public, and unwavering.

God’s Deliverance

Daniel was arrested and thrown into the lions’ den despite the king’s distress and efforts to rescue him. Yet God shut the mouths of the lions, proving that He is able to defend the righteous. King Darius responded with a royal decree proclaiming Daniel’s God as the living God whose kingdom never ends. Daniel was promoted and prospered, demonstrating that steadfast faith doesn’t just survive the trial—it shines through it.

 

Daniel 6:1–5 (NKJV)

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

Daniel 6:7–8 (NKJV)

All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.

Daniel 6:10 (NKJV)

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Daniel 6:10–11 (NKJV)

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

Daniel 6:14–22 (NKJV)

And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

Daniel 6:25–28 (NKJV)

Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.