Don't be Tripped by Troubles!

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Many of us are very familiar with this verse found in the book of Romans. We may even quote it several times a day, especially when trouble occurs. Trouble may come in many different forms. It's the pain and sorrow, distresses, worry and difficulties that occur in our everyday lives. We may worry about meeting our financial obligations, or perhaps we have a wayward child that causes us distress and anxiety. It may be stress over the possibility of an unexpected move (or a flood diversion plan running right through your farm), or a husband's change of job. Instead of allowing trouble to turn us inside out, let's allow God to use it in our lives for good. Trouble really can build our faith. We will never know what God can do for us until we are totally dependent on him. We must truly rely upon Him. We must trust Him that He knows what is best for us. I Corinthians 10:13 tells us "There hath no temptation (or adversity) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer (or allow) you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." Trouble and adversity come our way to help us to get our eyes on the Lord and depend on Him, thus building our faith.

There are many happenings in any given day that may cause us to lose a correct Christian response to trouble: children fighting (Oh, no - never happens in my home or yours, I'm sure), phone ringing relentlessly, boiling over a pot on the stove, a leaking washing machine. Have you noticed that much of the trouble we see in our day really causes us nothing more than inconvenience? Yet, how many times have we come 'unglued' over these bothers? Trouble can develop patience (if we let it). James tells us to "Count it all joy...knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting (lacking) nothing."

Often times going through trials gives us first hand experience, which can give us compassion for others who may be enduring the same thing. God may want to make you the shoulder for someone else to cry on. The Bible tells us to "bear ye one another's burdens" and that we are to "be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another."

Trouble creates humility in us, too. It lowers our pride and our confidence in ourselves. Just when we think we've gotten to where we ought to be, some good 'ol adversity comes knocking at our door. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall build you up" and "be clothed with humility" are a couple of admonitions to keep in mind.

Many of the trials and troubles we see are a result of our own inconsistencies in the Christian life. The biggest instigator of our anguish just may be us! God in His great mercy still forgives us for these self-inflicted troubles. One other thing we can be sure to learn through our own mistakes is to forgive others for their errors and lapses in judgment. "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

The lessons we can learn from troubles are many, but perhaps one of the greatest is this: troubles draw us closer to our Lord and His word. The Bible's very words will have much greater meaning and comfort when we've allowed them to be a blessing to us in our time of need. Then we may be able to say as the Psalmist in Psalm 119, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

While none of us enjoy going through troubles, they enter our lives for a purpose. God has reasons for allowing them our way. Don't let troubles trip you. Just remember Romans 8:28 is still in the Book! "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose."