3 qualities of a godly leader facing Adversity

 Read Daniel 2.

When there is a problem and no one has an answer, it is a God-given opportunity for those who know Him.

God gave Nebuchadnezzar a troubling dream.  It troubled him because he knew it contained a message but he did not know what it meant.  Since the days of the Tower of Babel, Babylon had been a center for every kind of satanic and false beliefs.  The king's closest advisers were known as magicians, enchanters, and astrologers.

Evidently, Nebuchadnezzar knew that these so-called wise men conspired in the past to make up interpretations to please the king or to promote themselves.  He no longer trusted them.  Hence, the test: to not merely interpret the dream but to even tell him what the dream was.  This would mean the end of their pretense of wisdom and guidance.  The advisers had been exposed.  Frustrated, the king's solution was to get rid of all of them.  The decision included Daniel and his three friends.

Like he did in chapter one, Daniel immediately recognized that this was an opportunity for God to demonstrate His power and His wisdom to an unbelieving culture.  Notice three things about Daniel's character.
1. He maintained a respectful attitude. (v.14)
These were his captors.  Now, they set out to kill him.  He did not rail against them and he did not panic.  His response to the captain was "with prudence and discretion."

2. He confidently demonstrated his faith. (v.16) 
It appears he had access to the king.  Daniel asked the king for the assignment and to set the time for a meeting.  Though Daniel did not have an answer, He fully trusted God to provide what he needed and on time.

3. He involved others to pray with him. (vv.17-23)
The dire circumstances moved them to first pray for God's mercy.  God's compassion upon them would mean that He would supply the solution to the problem.  And, the LORD answered their prayer!  Daniel's subsequent prayer of thanksgiving reveals his faith in God's sovereign control of all things. 

There is nothing like a dramatic answer to prayer to give a person great boldness of faith.  Daniel walked into the meeting with the king at the exact time to deliver God's message.  The results:
-Nebuchadnezzar bowed down to Daniel. (v.46)
-Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that the God of Daniel was the over all in heaven and earth. (v.47)
-Daniel not only spared his own life, but the lives of the false advisers as well. (v.48)
-Daniel and his three friends were rewarded and promoted to leadership positions within the most powerful empire in the world. (v.49)

For the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, there is always hope.  God is in control of even the worst circumstances.  There is great reward for those who trust Him.