The king had been humbled. The great Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, who had been compared to a lion (Jeremiah 4:7) and an eagle (Ezekiel 17:3-12), was driven from his kingdom to eat grass like an ox (Daniel 4:33). God got Nebuchadnezzar’s attention! When he came to his senses, he “blessed the Most High” God. We learn a lot about God and ourselves in Nebuchadnezzar’s prayer.

Daniel 4:34-35
…I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

The question that explodes into our hearts and minds as we go through challenging times is, “Why?” Why, God? Why this? Why now? Why me? One writer describes the issues that cause us to ask “Why?” as a question mark turned like a fishhook in the human heart. We wonder if God still loves us, if he removed his protection, if he is unable to help. We long for an explanation that will make sense of our situation.

Now, here’s something you probably don’t want to hear. Ready? Most of the time, we will never get the answer. From our vantage point, on this side of heaven, not all the pieces of life’s puzzle fit together. So, amid the unknowns, we must grasp the things we do know. In our shaken lives, we must cling to the unchanging and unchangeable character of God.

A foundational building block for a life of unshakable faith is the understanding that God is omnipotent. He does whatever he wants to do anytime he wants to do it. The humbled king said, “…He does according to his will among the host of heaven….” No one can stop God’s actions or “stay his hand.” His power is not changed by our challenges. God remains as all-powerful in our times of pain as he is in our times of praise. This truth does not answer all our questions, but in time, it changes the “Why?” to worship.

Father, I acknowledge you and you alone as the almighty, all-powerful God. Nothing can hold back your hand. I praise you as the omnipotent God. Thank you for the privilege of calling you, my Father. In Christ’s name. Amen.