Thriving… No Matter What – Part 2: Successfully Handling Troubles!

Daniel 2:1-3 (NIV)

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. ² So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, ³ he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.”

Trouble Handling Practice #1 –

Don’t be blown away by troubles,  them!

Ecclesiastes 5:12 (NLT)

People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich are always worrying and seldom get a good night’s sleep.

John 16:33 (NIV)
(Jesus said to his disciples, then and now) — “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

1 Peter 4:12 (GW)
Dear friends, don’t be surprised (blown away) by the fiery troubles that are coming in order to test you. Don’t feel as though something strange is happening to you,

Trouble Handling Practice #2 –

 all you can about your troubles!

Daniel 2:14-19 (NLT)

When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. ¹⁵ He asked Arioch, “Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?” So Arioch told him all that had happened. ¹⁶ Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.

¹⁷ Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. ¹⁸ He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. ¹⁹ That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.

• When “hit with trouble” get all the info and insight you can!
• When “hit with trouble” don’t be impulsive, right decisions are better than fast decisions, right decisions often take some time!
• When “hit with trouble” ask God for divine wisdom!

James 1:5 (NLT)
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Daniel 2:19-23 (NLT)

That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. ²⁰ He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. ²¹ He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. ²² He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light. ²³ I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded.”

Daniel 2:27-28 (NLT)
(Daniel said to the king) “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. ²⁸ But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.

Trouble Handling Practice #3 –

Rightly  to troubles!

When experiencing trouble, be !

Proverbs 20:30 (GN)

Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.

When experiencing trouble, be !

Hebrews 12:7 (MSG)
God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training,

When experiencing trouble, be !

2 Corinthians 1:4 (MSG)
God comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and … he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.

When experiencing trouble, be !

James 1:2-4 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.