Troubles Are the Norm

 Troubles Are the Norm By Anne Peterson
 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 We sat around a table in Germany, at the Hospitality House. It was a weekly Bible study for servicemen and their families. On a tape recording, Charles Swindoll said “We look at life with the mindset our difficult circumstances are the exceptions, that somehow, life should be easier. But troubles are really the normal part of ourlives.”
 We were made for heaven. Have you ever felt like you don’t belong here? Many years ago, as a new Christian, I remember singing a hymn that said we were pilgrims. I thought, I’m not a pilgrim, this is my home. But as the years kept passing by, I understood. This is not our home, but one day we will go home. We have desires that will not be satisfied till heaven, that’s what we were made for. And instead of trying to satisfy those desires with things around us, we would be wise to read God’s Word to find out whatGod says about this world and the one to come. No one likes struggles. In all my years of being a Christ follower, I have never met anyone who said, “I love trials and struggles.” When Jesus walked this earth, he didn’t love the hard times, he endured them. Often Jesus had to pull back and go off by himself because of the weightof living on this earth. So, what did he do? He spent time talking with God. And he came away from those times refreshed and renewed. If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to get renewed, how much more do we need that same thing? Platitudes don’t help. For most of my life I’ve heard platitudes that do not help when someone is struggling. Platitudes like, well you know, God helps those who help themselves. You won’t find that in the Bible. Thankfully, God helps us when we are unable to help ourselves. To be clear, I’m not saying we should just sit, doing nothing. There are times we are to wait on God(Psalm 27:14, and Isaiah 30:18). But there are also times when God will lead us. Times when we need to apply what we’ve read in God’s Word. I believe the red sea would have never parted if they didn’t lift their feet to walk into it. God tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6 to trust in the Lord, to acknowledge him and he will make our paths straight, or in another version it says God will direct our steps. That is talking about us moving in a direction. God does give us more than we can handle. So often people have misused the verse 1 Corinthians 10:13, which talks about how we will never be tempted above what we can handle, and they will say that means we’ll never be given more than we can handle. Without being in situations that are too big for us, how would we ever learn to leanon God? Of all the Crosswalk articles I’ve written, I got a lot of pushbacks about this one. You can read it here. Jesus told us we would have troubles. Accepting that we will have troubles in this life has been very liberating. It makes me more grateful for the quiet, peaceful times, knowing there will be trials as well. Times when things don’t go as planned, or when I get bad news or hear of a loved one whois ill. Times that will bring me to my knees. But the good news is, we are not alone in the hard times. God said so. And God is not a man that he should lie (Numbers23:19). If it wasn’t for the hard times, we would never grow our faith muscles. Yes, Jesus told us there would be troubling times, but he also told us to take heart. We can be encouraged that Jesus has overcome the world. And while some problems may seem overwhelming, maybe even impossible, God’s Word reminds us that the things whichare impossible with men are possible with God (Luke 18:27). Intersecting Faith and Life: What are you facing today that is overwhelming? Remember you are not facing it alone. God invites you to share whatever concerns you with him. And remember when you don’t see God working in your situation, it doesn’t mean he’s not working on it. God does someof his best work in the dark. Lord, I lift those who are reading this right now. I don’t know what is happening in their lives, but you do. I pray that you would comfort where comfort is needed, that you would give your wisdom if that’s needed, and that you would remind each of us howmuch you love us, so much that you sent your precious Son to earth to die for us. We pray this in His precious and Holy name. In Jesus’ name, Amen. You’ll Never Forget, a poem by Anne Peterson I know it doesn’t matter, God, How big this world may grow, You never will forget me and you’ve often told me so. You count each hair upon my head, you watch me night and day. And you will quiet heaven every time you hear me pray. © 2016 ----------------------------- 1. Jeremiah 32:27 Slide 1 of 10 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah32:27) Often we think because our trial is big to us, that it will be too big for God almighty. But God is able to handle anything we go through, and He does that for every person who calls on Him. 2. 1 Peter 4:12-13 Slide 2 of 10 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that alsoat the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” (1 Peter 4:12-13) When we are in a trial, it seems like it will never end, But God is a God of all time; He knows exactly how long our trials will endure and He will give us the strength we need to get through them. 3. Deuteronomy 31:6 Slide 3 of 10 “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy31:6) Often when we’re facing a trial, because we don’t know what is in our future, we forget God knows. He transcends time. He is the God of our present and He’s in the future as well. It just makes sense that we would let Him guide us since He knows infinitelymore about our lives than we do. 4. Proverbs 3:5-6 Slide 4 of 10 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs3:5-6) Often we spend countless time and all our energy trying to figure out what we should do when we have difficulties. We end up leaning on everything but God. But this verse assures us if we lean on Him, He will direct us. He will make our paths straight.What a reassurance that is. There is no path that God cannot make straight. 5. Isaiah 41:10 Slide 5 of 10 “Do not fear, for Iam with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) Trials have a way of wearing us down and before long, we don’t think we can put one weary foot in front of another. The enemy of our soul whispers that we are alone and that we will never make it. God reassures us that He is with us. God will give us thestrength we need; He will help us and will uphold us. And if God upholds us, we’re going to be okay. 6. John 14:26-27 Slide 6 of 10 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart betroubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:26-27) God has not left us alone in this world. To those of us who know Jesus as Savior, He has given us his Holy Spirit. And it is His Spirit who reminds us of what God says in His Word. The peace God gives us is a peace the world cannot even understand. It’sa peace that will settle our hearts and give our minds rest. 7. Psalm 55:22 Slide 7 of 10 “Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22) God is waiting for us to take whatever troubles us and to cast that onto Him. The problem is sometimes we do that and then we let worry come in, and we snatch out problems back from God. But if we really were able to cast it on Him, then we would know Heis more than able to handle whatever we are facing. God understands that doubts will sometimes creep in. Even Thomas had doubts. Still, God encourages us to trust that He will sustain us. He will help steady us no matter how shaky the world gets. 8. Matthew 6:25-27 Slide 8 of 10 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds ofthe air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew6:25-27) God often speaks about the sparrows around us. He tells us that we are worth more to Him than these little birds. He says this to make a point. If the God of the universe cares about the welfare of tiny, little birds, how much more does He care about us?The ones who were made in His own image. He tells us that we should not worry, just as those birds don’t give a second thought to where they will eat. Instead they trust the Father’s hand. 9. Psalm 91:14-16 Slide 9 of 10 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long lifeI will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16) God is our rescuer. The One who will come when we call and who will take us to safety. We acknowledge that we know Him and he gives us His protection. We call on Him and He responds. And He just doesn’t watch us in trouble, He delivers us out of it. Andthen He honors us and blesses us with long life. God shows us He is looking out for us, and all He asks is that we call on Him. A Prayer for Hard Times Slide 10 of 10 Lord, help us when we face trials in this life. Help us to call on You, knowing You always hear us. Help us to lean on You instead of leaning on our own understanding. Give us the strength we need, and remind us always that You are aware of what touchesus. You see even one sparrow that falls and we are worth more than sparrows. Thank you Lord, for not leaving us comfortless. Thank You for Your great love. We pray this in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.