Trouble with a Capital "T"

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

but the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Psalm 34:19 ESV

"I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden, along with the sunshine; there's gotta be a little rain sometime!"  I remember singing along to this catchy 1973 hit by Lynn Anderson.  As a child, I didn't really pay attention to the lyrics, but as an adult I think this first line could have been penned by God Himself.  

Committing my life to following Jesus does not mean my life will be trouble-free.  It's quite the contrary, really, as I live in enemy territory in a body that can be my greatest adversary until I'm called home (John 16:33, 1 Peter 2:11-12).  This sounds like a recipe for difficulty, if you ask me!  I'm not promised a life free of hard times but an abundant life in the midst of the mess (John 10:10).

But.  If the first part of today's scripture passage was the whole message, life would be hopeless indeed!  Thankfully, there is a "but."  The "but" means there is something more; an Overcomer who has vanquished death and has authority over sin and evil!  

Through Jesus, my Champion, I can live without fear of death.  It is no longer the end, but only the beginning of an eternity of bliss in the presence of the One who loves me perfectly!  I can trust Him that the everlasting home that is promised me will be one that fulfills me perfectly, giving me complete contentment as things return to how they were meant to be (John 14:2-3).  

I can also live a life free from the bondage of sin where temptation is not my slave driver but I can choose to take the out He's provided and walk a new way that is contrary to my fleshly desires (1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 6:6).

Furthermore, Satan has no license to operate freely in my life.  Instead, through Jesus I have authority over him, giving him no leeway except for what I allow.  When I recognize his evil plot, my Warrior has given me armor and weapons with which to fight him off (Ephesians 6:13-18).

Jesus is who I need to withstand the trouble I face in this world.

Deliverance.  It was like nothing anyone had ever seen before.  The men walked in the fiery furnace that was hot enough to melt iron yet emerged unscathed, without even the smell of smoke upon them (Daniel 3:19-30).  How could this be?  God delivered them!

The same is promised for me as His child through faith in Jesus Christ. Even though the waters may rise up until I may fear drowning, He will be with me keeping my head above the waters.  When rapids rush around me, threatening to take me back from where I came, I won't succumb to the current.  While I may not escape the fire, the flames will not destroy me (Isaiah 43:1-3).

In the same way that Jesus was there with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they walked in Nebuchadnezzar's deadly furnace, He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me (Daniel 3:25, Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5).  With Him at my side, what weapon can prevail, what trouble can overcome me (Romans 8:31, Isaiah 54:17 )?

Jesus is my deliverer who will stand with me through the trial, delivering me through it unscathed.

Complete.  Ever present.  Always ready. Very present.  Well-proved.  God is my refuge and strength.  Always, without fail, never to let me down in my time of need (Psalm 46:1).  With such a God as this at my side, what do I have to fear?

God's help is complete and whole.  He does not do a job half-way, but delivers total healing, full recovery, and thorough transformation.  He does not miss a detail.  Therefore, I can trust Him completely no matter what chaos is going on around me.  

Still, I must keep close to Him and train my attention upon Him to keep the current crisis from sending me into a tailspin of panic.  God is my refuge, but I must stick with Him in order to experience the help He is ready to give.  He will not let me down.

Jesus can be counted on to always provide complete help at just the right time.

Yes, life is full of trouble with a capital "T."  Even though I'm ushered into God's kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ, I'm not promised an easy, comfortable life.  I do have hope, though, in the person of Jesus Christ who will always be with me, faithfully delivering me through whatever trial may come.  Therefore, I can choose faith in Jesus instead of fear of what surrounds me.  I'm not promised a rose garden, but the joy that comes with walking through the fire with Jesus smells sweeter than any flower ever could!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes on Jesus as I encounter today's trouble with the grace God has promised me.

When do I let the trouble send me into fear and doubt?

In my panic, how do I forget Who is right beside me?           

Purpose for the Pain

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

Romans 8:35,37

When going through times of trouble, periods of persecution or interludes of sadness, I often cease to feel God's presence.  My own anguish threatens to envelope me, sealing me off from the Lord's presence. 

But He never left me.  He is always there, rather it is I who left Him.  Not intentionally, as in, "I don't need Him anymore, I can do this on my own."  Instead, it's more of a, "woe is me, how did I get in so deep?  I cannot find my way out of this mess."  

My focus becomes entirely consumed by the problems and I don't see, feel or sense God anymore.  I am drowning in the issues of life.

But hard times don't need to separate me from God, instead they can be tools that serve to strengthen my relationship with Him. 

Draw Me Closer

When times of trouble come, it is easy for me to allow the difficulties to take control.  Soon, I am overwhelmed and can see no way out.

If, instead, I intentionally take a moment and seek God, I will find that He is still present, in control and waiting for me to call on Him.  As the psalmist described God's desire for us in Psalm 50:15,  he records God's proclomation. ". . .call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

God is ready to act but it takes a step of faith for me to give a problem to Him before He will get involved.  His desire is to draw me closer, and many times the hardships are the only thing that will turn me toward Him.  Otherwise, I am completely content to live my life as it is. 

God uses adversity to draw me closer, but I must not let the troubles take control lest they overwhelm me.  If I intentionally turn away from the problem, and focus on Him as the solution, I will find Him there, closer than I ever realized.

Struggles are God's way of teaching me to cry out to Him.

Grow my Faith

When I was pregnant with triplets and on bedrest in the hospital, I learned quite a few things about babies under stress.  I found out that baby girls seem to withstand difficult pregnancies better than boys, that multiples tend to develop faster, and that the baby under the most stress seems to fare the best.   Infants born with multiple problems and low birth weight often have a better chance than those born early but with less difficulties.  The stress of the struggle tends to give the baby a better chance of survival.

It is the same with me.  If I never experienced any hard times, my faith would be weak.  I'd never get the chance to test it out! 

Trials are not simply there to make life interesting.  They are opportunities to trust God, to believe that He will do as He promised.  Difficulties give me a chance to see God in a whole new way, giving me more faith.

English clergyman George Herbert is known to have said, "Storms make oaks take deeper roots."  I want to have deep roots that draw from the living water that never goes dry.

As I go through the storms of life, instead of despairing, I can rejoice.  God is giving me another opportunity to trust Him and grow the roots of my faith.

Experience His Comfort

I remember the times when I skinned my knee, stubbed my toe or hurt myself in some way as a child.  I would then get to see a different side of my dad.  He would lighten the mood by calling for, "Dr Shane, Dr Shane, please come to the treatment room!"  Then he would lovingly clean my wound, instantly putting me at ease and making me feel better.  Everything was going to be okay!

God is the same way!  When I am hurt, I can turn to Him and He will comfort me.  As David wrote in Psalm 34:18, " The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

God provides hard times as a chance to get to know Him better.  I would never become familiar with His caring, gentle side if I didn't experience hardships.  

Difficulties are often seen as the bane of my existence, but in reality I can look at them as an opportunity to draw closer to God, to grow my faith and to experience His comfort.  There is a purpose for the pain!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will take whatever come to me today as an opportunity to learn more about God.

How do I let troubles take control instead of turning to God and letting Him handle them for me?

When have I experienced the God of all comfort?