You’ve probably heard the story of Daniel and how God rescued him from the jaws of hungry lions many times. But have you ever considered the lessons you can take from it and apply to your work?
Thankfully, you and I will probably never have to face real lions. But I’ll bet you’ve gone through at least a few experiences at work that made you feel like you were in a lions’ den. Believe it or not, we can learn some very substantive, relevant and valuable lessons from Daniel and the way he handled the lions’ den that he faced.
In Daniel 6, the king’s representatives became fiercely jealous of Daniel because the king favored him above them all. They convinced the king to issue a decree that landed Daniel in the lions’ den. Daniel had a decision to make – remain true to his faith in God or give into fear.
The workplace can trigger many fears – fear of failure of an important project, fear for the safety of your job, your financial security or your health when stress is overwhelming, or fear for the wellbeing of your relationships, just to name a few. What do you do when faced with threatening or potential no-win situations?
Here’s what Daniel did, and what we can do as well:
- Do what you know is right. Daniel didn’t let the decree intimidate him or stop him from doing what he knew was right. He refused to compromise his values. Fear can paralyze you or influence you to react out of desperation, which could make matters worse. Stop and pray, then take the next step to do what you know is the right thing. God will be by your side. – Daniel 6:10, Galatians 6:9
- Remember how big God is and that He is in control. No matter how overwhelming your situation is, God is greater, more powerful and more than able to handle it. God shut the mouths of hungry lions – all night! He can handle your situation, whether it be an overwhelming problem, a difficult customer or financial hardships. God is bigger than any challenge that comes your way and He can give you peace in the midst of chaos. – Daniel 6:22, Philippians 4:6-7
- Don’t fear – trust God. Daniel trusted God. He still had to spend a night in the lions’ den, but he was saved and his enemy was destroyed. When you trust God, He’ll give you the courage and wisdom you need to get through the most difficult circumstances. Even if you lose that client, or the problem intensifies, trusting God will allow Him to lead you to an outcome that is even better than if the problem had never occurred. – Daniel 6:25-28, Romans 8:28
1 Peter 5:8-10 assures us that “God Himself will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” What difficult situation can you turn to God with right now?
Learn more from Daniel through the WorkMatters Study, Daniel: A Leader of Integrity.
