As we continue in our series "Living in God's World, Even When It's Hard," guess what? It gets harder and worse. The next King of Babylon mentioned is worse that those before. Have you ever been in difficult times, asking God for relief, only to have life get even harder? It happens to all of us at one time or another. Yet when it seems to get worse, God is still there. He shows up. Daniel still brings the word of God even when it is not welcomed. God is at work even when it gets harder. It is so helpful to know this when we're going through it. How will God show up for you this week?

In our ongoing series, "Living in God's World, Even When It's Hard," we will see one more scene with the troubled king Nebuchadnezzar. Once again, Daniel is on the spot to help him. Why is God so on this particular king's case? What does he want from the King? What is God doing? When we know a little more about the history of Babylon and Israel, both inside and outside of the book of Daniel, we see what may be going on. God wants particular things from this king that are actually helpful for all leaders. But will Nebuchadnezzar listen? He's a slow learn. How many times does God have to tell you something for you to get the message? We seldom learn humility without pain. But is one of the most priceless lessons of life.

This week in our series "Living in God's World, Even When It's Hard," we will notice the one thing that the three Hebrew men, captives and servants of the king, would not do. They could not, no, would not do—One Thing. They would rather die than do this one thing. And death was waiting there, drooling, to receive them into its fiery mouth with pleasure. For some reason they were not afraid of death. Their colleagues betrayed them. The king raged at them. There was music and celebration all waiting for them if they would only do this one thing and death if they would not. They would not. But death did not win the day, when the three of them stood there alone, with the weight of the world pressuring them to give in. What was the one thing that kept them from giving in?

This Sunday in our series, "Living in God's World, Even When It's Hard" we will see the first recorded vision that Daniel receives as a prophet of God. Daniel's visions are among some of the most unusual in the entire Bible. What I notice in Daniel 2 is the striking contrast. There is the little picture of what Daniel, his friends and Nebuchadnezzar are going through. But then there is the big picture of God's plan for the history of the entire world. God is personally involved and moving in both dimensions-the micro dimension of our personal lives and the macro-dimension of working redemption in the entire world. It makes me love God and bow in awe of Him. Why would God want to use such ordinary people like me and you? How is it that we have a small part in his amazing plan? Let us delight in God together this week as we ponder the end of Daniel 2.