09/07/2022
How do we look to God in our times of trouble? Do we pray to Him for help, and faithfully continue in those prayers for His deliverance in spite of our suffering, or do we blame Him for allowing such a predicament to have befallen us? Do we believe that He is there with us, and stand firm in the courage that His promise provides us, or do we fall prey to a feeling of abandonment, and quake with fear? Let’s ask ourselves this question again… How do we look to God in our times of trouble?
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah”
Psalm 46:1-3 ESV
In today’s society we don’t approach trouble, or hardship as David did in the verses we just read. David looked at trouble as a natural occurrence in life that he could ask God to help him overcome, and he trusted that God would help, or rescue him. But today, because we feel entitled to a perfect life, we believe that there should never be hardship, or suffering, and when they occur we think that someone, or something must be to blame for them. When we face these things in our privileged lives we look to solve them ourselves, and then, when we can’t, we look to blame someone for them, and more often than not it is God. We rarely seek out the good in our tribulation, no, we see those two things, good and trouble, as being mutually exclusive, when in fact they are like a nut, we can’t have the tasty flesh of the nut without accepting the fact that it is covered by a hard shell that we must crack. All things, the good and bad, are part of God’s purpose, and work together to teach us, and to bring good into our lives.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 ESV
We need to be more like David, and trust in God to take the bad, the suffering, the mourning, and not only help us through them, but use them to make us good, and lead us into righteousness. We need to see that defeat in the world can bring spiritual growth in heaven; that pain can temper us and make us stronger, and that our mourning reveals the love we have for one another, and fixes the good memories that we have of them in our hearts. Do we look to God for good, or do we blame Him for the bad?
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
1 Peter 4:12-13 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for hearing our prayers when we are lost, suffering, mourning, or need your help in so many diverse ways. Help us Lord to see the troubles of the world as opportunities to turn to you all the more. Open our eyes to the fact that you love us, desire to help us, and are with us always. Correct us when we blame you for the harm that has befallen us in our lives, and never let us think for an instant that it is your desire to harm us in any way. Jesus suffered in the world, and at the hands of men, yet you took His suffering away, and turned it into good for all of mankind. You lifted Him up, and seated Him at your side for all eternity. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us without fail, and turns our troubles into blessings when we call upon you in prayer. Praised be your name for the times of plenty, and also for the times when we are set upon by trials that only you can overcome. Merciful are you who takes our love for another, and through our sorrowful mourning affixes their good memory within our hearts us forever… and once done, we praise you for ending this season of sadness, and heartache. Your peace, and joy, always returns to us when our tribulations have been overcome by you, and our paths have been made straight once more before us. Hear our crying in the night, taste our tears as they fall, and hold us close as we pray to you for your help, relief, provision, and every good thing that you will bring us in the hard times of our lives. Wash us in the blood that suffering bled from your Son Jesus, and cleanse us of all our sins. Transform us by His memory, and cover us with your grace that pours out from Him. See His image, not ours, when you look upon us in the hour of our judgment, and seat us at your bountiful table forevermore.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
John 16:33 ESV
Rich Forbes