When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

dANIEL 6:10 ESV

King Darius threatened Daniel because he didn’t want to worship other gods. Still, Daniel gave thanks and worshipped God endlessly. As a result, he was thrown into the lion’s den. But God heard his prayer and protected him, and Daniel came out of the den glorifying and thanking Him. (Daniel 6:1-10)

In a time of crisis, you might feel like Daniel in exile. Daniel’s life changed abruptly one day when he was carried off to Babylon. He had to follow a new set of rules from authorities he did not trust. Suddenly he couldn’t count on the rhythms of the life he had come to appreciate.

Daniel’s story shows that you can stay connected to God no matter what circumstances are going on around you. Daniel kept spending time in prayer, even as everything in his life was disrupted. In his time of trial, Daniel got down on his knees three times a day to pray to God, just as he had done before.

When our rhythms get disrupted, it can be very disconcerting. Most of us have established certain rituals around our working lives. During a time of crisis, you should maintain your own rhythms of prayer and discipline as much as possible. Keep up the habits that have kept you healthy or given you joy in the past. For example, if you used to walk to work, take a walk before you start your day, even if you’re not commuting to work anymore.

Most of all, stay connected to God through prayer and thanksgiving. Even in times of crisis, there are things to thank God for. These include the other people in your life. Daniel had a group of friends who followed God with him. Thank God for the people in your life who give you encouragement and strength.

The Scriptures make very clear that Daniel did not wait until a crisis came to begin praying to his God. To the contrary, good prayer habits will give us deep confidence in God’s providential care no matter what may come. “For he will never be shaken. He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is upheld, he will not fear” (Ps. 112:6–8).