“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”Romans 8:28 (NLT)
At some point in your life, an authority figure is going to ask you to do something that compromises your values—and you’re going to have to make a humble, respectful appeal for them to change their mind. That’s what happened to Daniel when King Nebuchadnezzar gave an order that violated Daniel’s conscience.
Sometimes that appeal will go in your favor, but other times the person in authority may stand their ground and you’ll need to ask God what you should do next. Maybe God will change the person’s heart. Or maybe he will change the situation so that what you’ve been asked to do is no longer necessary. Or—if your boss is asking you to violate your conscience—you might need to quit your job and trust God to provide you with a new one.
No matter what, you can know that God is in control. He may be doing something that you can’t see yet. Hold on to the promise of Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (NLT).
What gave Daniel the courage to stand up and not conform to the values around him when he didn’t know what the outcome would be? Daniel lived in close relationship with God; he walked with God and knew God as his friend. He had God’s presence in his life, God’s promises in his heart, and God’s power in his spirit. He had God’s people around him. He had God’s protection. Because of all of this, he was fearless.
What was true for Daniel can be true for you too. When you have to appeal to an authority in your life, you need to remind yourself of these four truths:
I have Jesus with me. Jesus said, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20 NIV). Even if you feel alone, you’re not; Jesus is with you.
I have the Holy Spirit in me. Jesus is with you, and God’s Spirit is within you too. “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4 NKJV).
I have God’s promises to me. The Bible contains over 7,000 promises that you can rely on. “God keeps every promise he makes. He is like a shield for all who seek his protection” (Proverbs 30:5 GNT).
I have God’s family around me. When you feel like you’re standing alone, the prayer and support of a church family is vital. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16 NIV).
No one may be asking you to compromise your values right now. But you can start living in these four truths today so you’ll be ready to fearlessly trust God when times get tough.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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