How to Stay Calm When Chaos Strikes: Learning from Daniel’s Wisdom

1 Corinthians 2:13: “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.”

“Pagan wisdom, though it, too, may be religious, has no anchor in the covenant-God and, therefore, is doomed to failure, as the prophets frequently point out (Is. 19:11ff.; Ezk. 28:2ff.; Ob. 8). When secularism, materialism, and disdain of the covenant-ideals squeezed the fear of God out of Israel’s wisdom, it became practical atheism, as vapid as its pagan counterpart, and drew Isaiah’s fire: ‘Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes’ (Is. 5:21; cf. Is. 29:14; Jer. 18:18).” [1]

Don’t Freak Out

Read Daniel 2:14-23.

Contrast Daniel’s response with those of magicians, enchanters, and astrologists. In the face of a daunting challenge, Daniel did not succumb to fear or panic. Instead, he tactfully sought to understand, prayed to God with his friends, and then praised God. His calmness and confidence, particularly at his young age, are truly inspiring.

He tactfully sought to understand: He showed no panic or despair. He spoke with wisdom and tact. Rather than arguing or begging, he first sought to understand. He asked why the king issued such a harsh demand. Then he asked for time, not to stall, but to interpret the dream. He knew he served a Big God, so he prayed to God with his friends.

He prayed with his friends: In the chaos of our lives, it’s powerful to pray with friends. This is one of the values of small groups in churches. We can pray together for whatever we are facing in our lives. God answered. He gave Daniel the dream and its interpretation.

He praised God: We can easily forget to thank God when he answers. Daniel remembered. Daniel praised the God of heaven. Wisdom and power are His, above any other force, god, or source of knowledge. God is in charge of time and history, and kings and empires. We can trust this Big God. He is the revealer of mysteries and deep things. Only God can reveal to you what life is really all about. In response to prayer, He gives wisdom and power, then and now. It might look like the “king,” or the boss, has all the power and that his decree is final, but it is not. God has the power. Daniel’s fantastic praise poem worships God for truths about Him that we will also see revealed in the dream and its interpretation.

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[1] Hubbard, D. A. “Wisdom.” Ed. D. R. W. Wood et al. New Bible Dictionary 1996: 1244. Print.