According to Investopedia.com whereas a leading indicator is something measurable that “predicts a change or movement,” of a particular event, a lagging indicator is something measurable that “changes sometime after” the event. “Lagging indicators confirm trends and changes in trends.”

Joel Osteen is a prominent minster located in Houston, TX, and has a television ministry. He told the story of when his mom was stricken with cancer but refused to accept this diagnosis. After hearing the medical report, she began to pray and thank God for healing. She would walk around her home quoting scripture and believing for a positive result. She was restored completely, but it occurred months after she initiated her faith.

When the sun rises in the morning it does not mean the day has just begun. In fact, a new day started hours before, at midnight. Sunrise is a lagging indicator of a new day. Healing for Joel’s mom was a lagging indicator of her belief that started her trending towards full recovery. Just like evidence of healing correlated to Mrs. Osteen’s faith which started months before, the sunrise correlates to midnight which starts hours before, every time.

Yes, you have prayed, hoped, believed, worked, and endured for a while. You may even be frustrated with where you are still – in the same financial, emotional, physical, social, spiritual, or other state you have been. But take heart because it is past midnight, and your sunrise is coming.

The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end, for His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

In Daniel 6, the story is told of a young man who was to be promoted by the king from one of three commissioners reporting directly to the king, to overseeing the entire kingdom. However, the other commissioners and their subordinates plotted to discredit him but came up empty. The haters tricked the king into signing a decree that would cause Daniel to have to choose between allegiance to the king or allegiance to God. Daniel decided to remain true to his values and chose God even though it meant risking his life.

Interestingly, God still chose to allow Daniel to go through the deadly challenge of being thrown into a den of lions, even though he prioritized God over the king. The king was distressed over having Daniel face the lions but knew that he had to allow the decree to stand. He stayed up that night fasting in hopes that Daniel would not be killed.

Early the next morning the king rushed down to the den and called out to Daniel to see if he was still alive. God had taken Daniel through the challenge unscathed by shutting the lions’ mouths. In fact, the plan of Daniel’s schemers backfired, and they along with their families were thrown into the same den that Daniel made it safely out of. They became lion lunch, before they even got to the bottom of the lions’ lair. Also, the king signed a new decree to have the people in his kingdom pray to God, not man.

When we choose to trust God in faith, not man or our circumstances, He may still allow us to go through the challenge. But rest assured that His intention is to prove himself mighty to us and to those around us. It may not always turn out the way we desire, but it will always turn out for the best – sometimes even much better than anticipated.