By Steven Temple

Guest Columnist

 

Most of our life we deal with some type of trouble day in and day out. We can never seem to fully escape from all of our troubles. We can have seasons where we do not have any type of trouble come to us but, just as in nature, the seasons change.

Trouble seems to always be lurking around the next corner as we navigate this life. We can have many different avenues that trouble travel to reach us. We can have financial troubles, work troubles, family troubles, marriage troubles, or health troubles to name a few. There are even times when we have all of them rolled together that hit us.

It is no secret, troubles come, no matter who you are, what you do, or how often you plan to minimize those things. There is nothing pleasant about dealing with these things. Even the memories of these troubles cause us anguish when we begin to ponder on them. Trouble, when it comes, can bring a wide range of emotions and reactions. How we respond can determine how we allow those things to affect us in the future.

There is no single point that we can hope to escape from these arrows of trouble. Mans life will always encounter troubled times. From the day we begin this life until this life is over, trouble will always be lurking for an opportunity. In the Book of Job Chapter 14 it tells us, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”

We are warned that our days are short and troubles will be many. If we live to be 100 we will look back and see that our life was so short. If we look at our time on this earth we can not truly count the number of times that troubles have come to us. Each day presents itself with new afflictions, troubles, heartaches, and sorrows.

We can have action and reaction to these troubles. Our action should be praising the Lord in the good times and our reaction should be praising the Lord in the bad times. I know that sounds easier said than done but it is plausible. Just look at the response of Job throughout his story.

Job, a man that was righteous and served the Lord was met with unimaginable troubles. All of these happened in a days time. He lost his home, his animals, and his children. The only thing that carried him through this was his relationship with God. While everything was well we can find Job worshipping the Lord. When immense trouble came we find Job worshipping the Lord. Job knew that everything in this life was temporary. Everything was just on loan from God. Jobs’ response was, ‘the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” What an amazing reaction to the efforts of trouble to take away his worship.

No matter who you are today, how much money is in your bank account, who you surround yourself with, where you live, or what you drive, trouble will find you. You may escape the majority of them unscathed but there will come a time when they will knock the breath from you. This, too, is temporary. You will see the sun rise again, you will catch your breath, you will cry, you will cease to cry. Troubles come but thankfully they also go. What matters is that your worship never leaves you and you are able to say, “Thank you Lord”, in the midst of those troubles.

How realistic is your relationship with the Lord today? When trouble comes will you be able to continue to worship God? Life is full of trouble but it is also full of sustainment in the Lord. Choose how you weather the storms. Will you lean on the Lord?

 

Pastor Steven Temple is the Pastor of The Church on the Hill in Rose Hill, VA. You can reach Pastor Steven via email at: Pastor.Steven.Temple@gmail.com