Faithful Prayer Keeps You Steady in Impossible Times

There are times when you can look at a situation and see no way out. Daniel knew what that felt like. A law had been signed against the very thing he had faithfully done all along: pray to his God.

What should I do when a situation looks impossible?

When the situation looks impossible, keep praying and keep trusting the God you have already been serving. Daniel did not wait until he was in the lions' den to start seeking God. Prayer was already part of his life.

The word says in Daniel 6:10, "He kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." That means Daniel knew the decree had been signed, but he still went before God the way he had before.

He did not let the law stop him. He did not let the king stop him. He did not let jealousy stop him. He knew what he believed, and when pressure came, he kept doing faithfully what he had always done.

That is something we need to think about. Will God find us faithful in prayer when trouble comes? Do not neglect prayer just because the situation has become difficult.

Why did Daniel keep praying after the decree?

Daniel kept praying because his faithfulness to God was not going to change just because the circumstances changed. He understood that the decree went against what he had been taught and against his devotion to God.

The men who wanted Daniel removed knew his pattern. Daniel 6:11 says, "Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God." They found him praying because they knew he was a praying man.

Think about that. His enemies could predict where Daniel would be because he had been so consistent. They knew prayer was not something he did every now and then.

Daniel prayed three times a day. One time was not good enough for him. When the decree came, he did not suddenly become ashamed of prayer or hide what he had been doing.

Let me tell you, pressure will show what you have been holding on to. Daniel kept holding on to God with both hands. His circumstances changed, but his God did not.

How does faithful prayer keep your faith steady?

Faithful prayer keeps your attention on God instead of letting fear decide what you believe. Daniel was facing a situation where the king could not help him, the law could not be reversed, and he could not rescue himself.

But Daniel knew where to go. He went before the righteous Judge. He went to the One who could do something about his situation and his circumstance.

The lions' den looked final to everybody else. The people who accused Daniel expected him never to come back. But they did not see God working behind the scenes on his behalf.

After Daniel came out, Daniel 6:23 says, "No manner of hurt was found upon him because he believed in his God." He did not doubt. He believed in his God.

Prayer does not mean you pretend the lions are not there. It means you know who your God is while you are facing them. Daniel could not change the decree, but he could still pray.

What can I expect when I keep praying?

You can keep praying with the confidence that God hears you and that He is able, even when you cannot see how the situation will change. I do not know what you are facing or what you are dealing with, but God knows.

Daniel went into a situation that looked impossible, and God brought him out. God sent an angel and shut the mouths of the lions. Not one hair on Daniel's head was hurt.

That is why I keep saying, do not neglect prayer. Any chance you get to pray, do so. You may be praying in your own home, but God hears your prayer.

The enemy would like believers to second-guess God, question God, or start thinking God has forgotten about them. Do not let that happen. God is still God, and He has not changed.

So when the situation looks impossible, pray. When you do not know what is going to happen next, pray. Keep doing faithfully what you were doing before the trouble came, and keep believing that your God is able.