Christian Devotional – July 10, 2026

Leading Through Challenging Circumstances, Day 47

The whiners. Read Daniel 6:12-13.

Every parent has dealt with the whiny child. This is the child that always is upset about something someone else is getting. They always feel like they have gotten the short end of the stick. They are constantly complaining about what’s going on with everybody else around them, instead of worrying about themselves. These men had set a trap for Daniel and now it was time for them to go and to whine about it to the king. They explained to the king that Daniel was breaking the law.

At first glance, it might look like they’re just looking for justice. But remember, they are the ones that convinced the king to put this law into place in the first place. They knew exactly what they were doing. And the king knew exactly what they were doing.

When we are in leadership, we are always going to face the whiny people. These are the people who are really only focused on themselves and who really are only doing things to benefit themselves. While our motives for leadership may be different, their motives are really all about what they can gain. Daniel stood in the way of what these people thought they could gain as a result of their leadership. So, they did everything they could to see him removed.

Leading through circumstances that are challenging includes leading when other people don’t want you to be the leader. These men whined and complained, but Daniel stayed focused on himself, his God, and his leadership. When faced with whiners, the only thing we can do is stay focused on God and do exactly what God wants us to do in that moment. Whiners are going to whine no matter what you do, so it’s not a good idea to change your actions just to try to please them. Please God. He’s the one that’s most important, anyway.

Watch the video devotional here: https://youtu.be/kDZlNI3x15g