The Day My Prom Date Fell Through (Dealing with the Unexpected!)

“I’m not going to the prom with you,” she said. 

In that moment I felt like every cell in my body was about to explode at the speed of light.  I started sweating, my legs became weak and I literally had to fight back tears. 

“Are you serious,” I asked. 

“Yes,” she said—and then just walked away. 

]I could not believe what had just happened. 

We had planned this for months! 

I had my tux picked out (and had put down a deposit on it!) 

She was one of the hottest girls I had ever seen in my life – and the day she said she would go to the prom with me was one of the greatest days of my life…

…and then THIS day happened, which left me feeling as if I had been hit in the face with a bag of bricks. 

We’ve all had days like this – days when all hell breaks loose – days when we simply did not see it coming and, as a result, we are left confused and without hope. 

There is a guy in the Bible named Daniel – and his circumstances were a bit more extreme than my prom dating shattering my heart. 

Daniel was in the upper echelon of society, a leader who was brilliant and had a promising future when it came to the political landscape in Israel.  Everything was going his way…until THIS happened in Daniel 1:1-7

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.

3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.  5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

Daniel went from significance to slavery, from potential to pain – the world he had hoped for came crashing down around him – and he was immersed in circumstances that none of us would want for ourselves. 

When things like this happen it is so easy to become bitter, lose hope and want to give up. 

However, Daniel’s story didn’t end up that way. 

We know this because the Scripture we just read is in the book of…Daniel! 

God was with Him—even though his world had fallen apart. 

And all through the book we see God do the “impossible” over and over again.  (He sets Daniel and his friends up to thrive in Babylon in chapter one, works through Daniel to do something pretty remarkable in chapter two, delivers Daniel’s friends from the fire in chapter three and delivers Daniel from the lion’s den in chapter six.

I can specifically remember reading through the book of Daniel and writing down a phrase that has stuck with me through the years…

“My circumstances do not alter God’s character.” 

At times when our world comes crashing down (whether it’s a canceled prom date, or losing a job, or getting a divorce or losing someone close to you) it is so easy to question the goodness of God. 

However, the book of Daniel serves as a reminder that—when things are out of control, God is still in control—and He really does reign over every circumstance and situation.  

What happens when your world comes crashing down?  (time I thought I had a prom date and two weeks before she said no!)  Daniel’s world came crashing down.  Everything he had hoped for was gone…but name of book is Daniel—reminder God will bring us through. 

So, maybe you are reading this at a time when your world has absolutely crumbled and you have simply lost hope. 

Don’t feel bad – it happens to everyone (whether we want to admit it or not.) 

I cannot make you a promise that if you pray a prayer and say a Bible verse that you will be propelled out of your situation like a rocket…

…however, I can make you a promise that though God may not change our circumstances immediately – He will work out all things in ways we could never even imagine eventually. 

At the time the canceled prom date was one of the most devastating things that had ever taken place in my life – today I can’t even remember the girls last name! 

So…hold on…don’t give up – because in His time God can take your mess and turn it into a miracle.