Troubles Come and Troubles Go
Mothers of Nations, have you ever considered that when Jesus was entering Jerusalem, He was well aware that trouble was going to come. His ministry, His life purpose, and His destiny would all include problems and difficulties.
Life is like that for all of us at some point even though we are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. We were not chosen to escape troubles. Rather, we were chosen to face troubles, overcome them, and glorify God in the midst of all that comes our way.
In John 16: 33 Jesus said, “In this world you will have troubles, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”
Job 14: 1-2 (NKJV) says this. “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.”
How frail is humanity! How short is life! How full of trouble our lives can be at times!
We blossom like a flower and then whither. Like a passing shadow, we quietly disappear.
King David commented on troubles in Psalm 34: 19 when he said that the afflictions of the righteous are many.
The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4: 8 that we are hard pressed (afflicted) on every side. Paul realized that without God, we are destroyed.
The early Christians faced constant troubles. The Jews didn’t want Christian Jews. The Gentiles didn’t want Christians who had chosen only one God – Jesus. Christians lost their lives. Others were ridiculed, tortured, shunned and harmed.
Think about this. Even Charlie Brown had troubles! He said, “I’ve got so many troubles that if anything happens to me today, it will be two weeks before I can worry about it.”
Mothers of Nations, most certainly we are no different. We will face trouble. So then, what do we do about troubles?
- We learn from them.
- We grow because of them.
- We change as we deal with them.
Let’s face those troubles and pray, “God let me learn double from my trouble!”
James 1: 2-5 gives us some instructions about dealing with troubles.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
- Consider (count) -- Maybe there is a purpose for this situation. Think about how to deal with it positively.
- Know – God has His reasons for all things. He allows trouble so we can ask what can we learn from this situation? How can we develop our character? What can we gain from this trouble?
- Ask – We ask for wisdom to manage things God’s way.
- Endure – We endure by completely leaning on God, His grace, His strength and His ability.
Mothers of Nations, blessings come when we manage our troubles God’s way.
James 1: 12 reminds us that God blesses those who endure.
We also read in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that God crowns us. Why don’t you take time now to look up each of the following verses that talk about how we are “crowned.”
- A crown that will last forever – 1 Corinthians 9: 25
- A crown of exaltation – 1 Thessalonians 2: 19
- A crown of righteousness – 2 Timothy 4: 8
- A crown of life – James 1: 12
- A crown of glory – 1 Peter 5: 4
Here are more encouraging Scriptures that we can stand on when we face troubles and difficulties.
God will lead (guide) us through every trouble. Psalm 23: 4
He works in our life to turn our troubles to good. Romans 8: 28
He rescues the godly. Psalm 37:7, 39-40
He will be our refuge. Proverbs 14: 26
He is our strength and refuge. Psalm 46: 1
He is our Helper. Isaiah 41: 10
Let me close today with this poem I wrote as I considered this topic of troubles. May you be blessed beyond measure this week and may all your troubles merely be steppingstones to great victories!
Dr. Sharon Predovich
Troubles come and troubles go.
Some come fast and some come slow.
It’s like the devil wants to show
That he can attack God’s holy flow.
Yet all we do is weather the storm and never bend,
Resting in God’s grace, knowing we are winners in the end.
Whether we get through the trouble
Or it turns to something double,
God is always our refuge and our strength.
And He will go to any length
To save His anointed and give us His grace
So we can all be winners in this godly race.
