Trouble

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. (Psalms 9:9)

Notice the writer does not say that the Lord will remove all our troubles, or that we will be made to rise up victorious in each and every case. Also note that he is not speaking to those who are walking the flower strewn pathway of ease and joy, but rather is relating to the oppressed; to those who have been hurt, put down, run over, or overlooked. God is speaking through His servant David that not only will He provide us a safe haven, but that He is our safe haven; our hiding place, our fortress of peace during times of adversity.

It doesn’t take long to find that, in the real world, life is not a Hollywood movie or TV series in which all problems are solved in a matter of literal minutes. In the real world, there is not always a happy ending. Anyone who doesn’t understand this is in for terrible disappointments.

It is true that many of life’s problems are not always simple or easy to solve, but we think that they should be. Today, we are living in an “instant” society where we have come to expect a “quick fix” for every unwanted situation we face. We think there should be a “delete” button for any trouble that may have found its way into our lives. This mindset is only encouraged by the hordes of “word faith”, “seeker friendly”, “and prosperity preachers”, that have infiltrated the religious society of today.

Why do we expect that everything must be one hundred percent perfect one hundred percent of the time, and when problems do arise, why do we begin to question God’s love for us? Can we not see or understand that his love was sufficiently manifested when he hung on the cross and took our place in death? Have we become so arrogant as to think that we should never have any troubles or trials in our lives? The truth is, in this life we may be plagued with adversity (Job 14:1).

Even Apostle Paul experienced a lifelong thorn in his flesh (2 Cor 12:7). He says it was given him that he might not be exalted above measure. But listen to what the Lord told him when Paul asked that it might be removed: “My grace is sufficient for thee”, for my strength is made perfect in weakness” As with Paul, could it not be possible, that in God’s plan, we are to bear certain crosses in our lives that we may remain humble or maybe, just maybe, that our lives might be examples to others on how professed Christians should react in the face of adversity? Should not God’s grace be sufficient for us to be able to bear any burden that comes our way?

The fact is; some problems or troubles may be life long, in which we will find no relief until the day we are released from life itself. We don’t hear this taught in Sunday school, or from many of the pulpits, but then again, there are many other biblical truths that seemed to have been conveniently overlooked by our churches.

Keep in mind the text and understand that even though God does not always deliver us from each of our problems, he can and, in many cases, will deliver us in (or during) our problems. Remember Daniel’s night with the lions? He was not delivered from the den of lions, but rather was delivered in the den of lions! As it was with Daniel so it was with the three Hebrew children, they were not delivered from the fire but they were most assuredly delivered while in the fire! Our Lord can provide us peace and contentment even in the worst of situations:

"And prisons would palaces prove"
"If Jesus would dwell with me there"

Let us consider the following scripture; “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world”? If we truly believe this, nothing can remove from us the hope and the happiness found in Christ Jesus our Lord! If not, then this life can very well be a hard and arduous journey.

Sam Everett