Trouble, Trouble, Trouble
“Trouble was my middle name,” so sang Tennessee Ernie Ford in the song “16 Tons.” “We’ve got trouble, right here in River City,” so sang Robert Preston in “The Music Man.” And, Eliphaz says in the Book of Job, “Yet man is born to trouble, as sparks fly upward.” It seems trouble is everywhere, affects everyone, and touches everything! I guess we just can not escape trouble in this world. Trouble, stress, difficulties, problems and heartaches are all normal for each one of us. During our life time we will all pass through problems.
As we l I’ve our life since we cannot escape trouble, the question then becomes, “How am I going to respond to trouble?” Recently the Giants were playing a baseball game in Chicago when the heavens opened up and dumped a deluge of rain for about 15 minutes. When it began to rain the grounds crew attempted to cover the field with a tarp. But, due to improperly storing it the last time it had been used, the field didn’t get covered properly. In those short 15 minutes the field became unplayable. Simply because no shield was found to protect the field, the game was eventually suspended. Without the proper protection the game couldn’t go on. Was it the rain’s fault? Or, rather, was it the fault of the lack of a tarp covering the field? I would opt for the second suggestion!
You see, it isn’t the trouble that causes us to suffer as much as our lack of properly handling the trouble. Getting in out of the rain, or finding a safe place to hide from an enemy or getting into the shade to protect us from the sun are all necessary steps to keep us from further trouble. Have you ever done something so dumb you lived with the consequences? When your car broke down on the side of the road, did you just want to get out and kick it? Would that have helped? Certainly not. But, more often than not that is our first reaction. But, if we kicked the car, we might just be in bigger trouble with a broken foot!
The Psalmist says that man has trouble. (Psalm 46:1) He says that we will all experience tight places and feel like the walls are caving in around us. We will feel like there is no escape. At that point we will be in danger of giving up hope and giving in to the trouble. But, the Psalmist points us to the One Who can help. He says “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” We can escape to the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. In our weakness He will lift us up. He will give us strength for the day. Notice the word, “very.” Not only is our Lord with us, He is “very present” with us. His grace, mercy, peace and strength are given in abundance. We never need to wonder where we can find the way of escape.
Are you living in trouble today? Does it feel like the walls are caving in? Do you feel like you can not see any way out? Is the storm raging and you feel like you have no where to go? Run to Jesus! He will be your shelter, shade and protection.
Ok, it kept our important papers but no money. But, just in case we needed it it is was there.