I pray that everyone reading this letter is doing well and continuing your journey with the Lord as we quickly see the day approaching! I had planned to finish the series on Ephesians but God has led me in another direction.
Trouble! That’s a word most of us know too well. It seems we are living in a time where there is trouble on every hand. Almost everyone you talk to, you hear stories of marital troubles, financial troubles, troubles on the job, troubles with the children, and all you have to do is turn on the t.v. or pick up the daily paper and you will read or hear nothing but more trouble!
Trouble, it’s all around us; it’s everywhere!
Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him"
Today I want to share with you three things that I know will encourage your heart as you walk through this life filled with “trouble!”
First,” You are not alone!!” I recently received an e-mail from a wonderful, Christian lady who is going through troublesome times. As I read her letter, I could feel her pain and anguish because a lot of what she was sharing was troubles I had experienced myself!
Last week, a man got up to pray in church, and broke down with tears streaming from his face because his heart was broken for his wayward son. He and his wife are going through such troublesome times. My prayers are with these folks because I know the pains and anguish they are feeling. I have been there, and trust me, I have seen my fair share of trouble!
Before I say anymore, let me give you the definition of trouble. According to the Webster dictionary, trouble means; to agitate mentally or spiritually.
Take a look at the synonyms for trouble: concern, upset, confuse, pester, plague, fret, torment, hector, harass, badger, grief, agitation, care, suffering, trial, tribulation, affliction, misfortune.
Many of those words have described me over the last several years!! TROUBLE!! Help!!! Satan has caused so much havoc in my life and in my family and just when I thought things were getting better. … they got worse because that ole’ devil was back with more!! Not only have I had emotional and spiritual trouble, I have had physical trouble as well! The good news is that someday we will have a “new” body and Satan will no longer be able to attack us physically or spiritually, but for now let’s not forget that Satan is like a lion, lurking around, seeking out anyone he can destroy! (I Peter 5:8) He will stop at nothing! We need to put on the WHOLE armor of God so we can fight all the troubles that come our way.
Ephesians 6:11-13 says, “ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
When we are going through our troubles, we often think there is no one who has gone through what we are going through, or no one can understand the pain and anguish we are feeling, but let me tell you that there is!
If you look throughout the scriptures, there you will find many who faced troublesome times and overcame them with the help from God! Here are a few that come to mind:
Moses had a congregation of over a million and all they did was complain! They were never satisfied with what the Lord was doing for them! Moses continually had trouble! Can you imagine having hundreds of people calling you every day and all they did was complain?? No thanks!! I’ll keep my own troubles!
Job! Now everyone knows his troubles! He had more trouble than most humans could bear! This man lost his children, all ten of them in one swoop. He lost his wealth, his cattle, and his health! His own wife wouldn’t stand by and support him for goodness sakes!!! I love what he says after all the trouble that has befallen him. He says, “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job1:21) Wow! That’s amazing faith in God and a wonderful example of staying positive in the midst of troublesome times!
David was a man of many troubles. He went from killing a giant and becoming a hero only to be hated and “wanted for dead” by King Saul! He became king over Israel eventually, and paid a heavy price for his idleness! He committed adultery and had a man murdered! Wow, talk about troublesome times! His child died at birth, his daughter Tamar was raped, and his son Absalom had his brother Amnon killed, and rebelled against his father, and tried to overthrow him.
Now, that’s trouble any way you look at it!! Absalom died in the battle and brought great sorrow to David. In this passage, you can feel the pain and anguish David had. His heart was truly broken.
II Samuel 18:33 says, “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Take a look at the book of Psalms and there you will see the trouble and heartache David experienced. Here are just a couple of examples.
blockquote>Psalms 31:9-10 “Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.” (This is a great chapter to read)
Psalms 27:5 “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.
Now I have saved the bests for last! Oh, may we never forget the One who took on our sins and died for us! Jesus!! He knew all about trouble! It was all around Him. Everywhere He went, there was someone who was out to harm Him. One of His own disciples betrayed Him and that ultimately led to His death!
Here is a passage that reminds me that Jesus knows all about my troubles and trials. He has felt all my heartaches and hurts.
Mark 14:33-36 "And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. nd he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."
He has walked where you are right now, and He has felt all your feelings too!
Throughout the four Gospels, you will find so many encouraging scriptures that Jesus left with us so when trouble comes our way, we would be able to cling to His precious words of comfort! Here are just a few wonderful verses that have been quoted in times of trouble!
John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Secondly, Meditate on God’s Promises and watch all those troubles roll right out the door! God’s Word is Amazing! Just recently I caught myself asking the Lord, “Why” and then He quickly re-assured me with His Word! The Word of God is one of the most powerful weapons we have against trouble!
Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”Let me share with you a few scriptures to jot down somewhere to remind you that you are not alone in your troubles!
Romans 8:28 (And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love the Lord!) I have clung to this verse because I know that there is a reason for EVERYTHING! We go through troubles in this life to make us stronger and closer to the Lord. Stay in the Word!!! It’s our “life-line” Keep the devil at bay by staying active in the Word!
II Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed
Psalms 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us.
II Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you
Psalms 46:1-3God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength
Storms are coming or should I say “trouble is coming” sooner or later, but just remember that God is at work in EVERY situation! The Lord often uses troublesome times to wake us up so that we can cry out to Him and draw closer to Him!
Lastly, let me say, “Be an Encourager!” There is no better "medicine" for our broken hearts than that of encouragement! When we see people around us hurting and going through troubles and trials, let’s encourage them to keep the faith and pray for them until it's resolved! Send cards or even call them and encourage them to “press onward!”
Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another”
Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
There is nothing like having someone call and ask to pray with you because they know you are hurting. There is nothing like receiving a card in the mail letting you know that you are loved and cared for! I know I have received cards, e-mails, and phone calls and what a tremendous blessing it is knowing that someone is praying; someone is thinking of me and calling out to the Lord on my behalf!!!
God allows troubles and trials to come our way so we can learn from them and help someone who might be going through the very same thing!
II Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Today may be the day that you face the biggest trial of your life but just remember that you are not alone! You have your brothers and sisters in Christ and you have God, your Heavenly Father to lean on! You also have God’s Word as your protective armor to get you through ANYTHING that comes your way!
Be an encourager to someone today! It will take your mind completely off your troubles and cause you to focus on others! Try it today and see what a difference it will make in their life and in yours!!!
“Encouraged in Heart. . . United in Love”
Jenny
II Timothy 1:12
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