Like Daniel: Finding God’s Comfort and Wisdom Today
Just as Daniel experienced God’s care, we too can find comfort in His greater wisdom (Dan 2:20-22). Yet, remembering His nearness during trials can be profoundly challenging.
Here are a few testimonies found on the Internet. There are many others:
A) Consider Joni Eareckson Tada’s account after her diving accident left her quadriplegic. In her book “Joni,” she vividly describes the agonizing wait for any sign of improvement, the crushing weight of uncertainty about her future. Her initial struggle mirrored the anxieties of author and speaker Lysa TerKeurst, who has openly shared her battles with betrayal and unexpected financial strain. In “It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way,” TerKeurst recounts the feeling of her carefully constructed life crumbling, leaving her questioning God’s plan and feeling isolated in her pain.
Both women, accustomed to active lives and control, grappled with constant worry and doubt, finding platitudes unhelpful. However, through their trials, both Tada and TerKeurst developed a deeper reliance on God. Tada’s testimony highlights finding joy and purpose within her limitations through faith and prayer, while TerKeurst’s writing details clinging to God’s promises and finding strength in community. The biblical calls to rejoice, pray, give thanks, encourage, and build each other up became practical lifelines for both women in navigating their deep uncertainty.
B) Jimmy Ong’s testimony recounts his journey from achieving corporate success in Singapore to experiencing devastating financial ruin and the profound loss of his son. These hardships stripped away his sense of self-worth and security, leading him to question the meaning of life. It was during this period of despair that he was introduced to Christianity by a friend. Initially resistant, he eventually became receptive to the message of hope and forgiveness.
Through the consistent love and support of fellow believers, Jimmy came to understand the depth of God’s love for him, even in his brokenness. He realized that true worth was not in material achievements but in a relationship with Jesus Christ, which brought him a deep sense of peace. While the pain of his loss remained, his perspective shifted. He resolved to surrender his life to God, using his experiences to share the hope he found in Christ with others in Singapore and beyond. His testimony illustrates how God can use brokenness to lead individuals to a higher calling and a purpose greater than worldly success.
These personal narratives, and the many others shared within the Christian community, consistently echo this core truth: even when weighed down by anxieties, God’s presence is a constant. Their dependence on the supportive network of the church and the fortitude gained through prayer beautifully illustrate the biblical exhortations to ‘encourage one another’ (1 Thessalonians 5:11) and to ‘pray without ceasing’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
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