Read: Numbers 6-7:89 & Mark 12:38-13:13 & Psalm 49:1-20 & Proverbs 10:27-28
When Christians refer to “times of trouble,” we often picture a major tragedy, such as the death of a loved one or a bad report from the doctor. But times of trouble can be any time life feels out of control and things are not going as we would like. Something as simple as locking yourself out can be an inconvenient time of trouble. Once it’s happened, you have no control over the situation, other than calling for help.
Often when trouble arises, our first thought is how we can resolve the situation independently. (How many of us have locked ourselves out and seriously contemplated breaking a window?) We like to believe we can handle difficulty on our own. This desire to fix problems on our own is based on fear; fear of what others might think if they knew about our circumstance. The problem with this self-reliant, independence is that we’ll begin to trust in ourselves more than we trust God.
There is only one kind of healthy fear described in the Bible - the reverential fear and awe of God. It doesn’t mean being afraid of Him or believing He is going to hurt you. This type of fear shows respect for His authority. It’s developing faith in God instead of faith in our faith.
When trouble comes, we can view it as an intrusion or we can see it as an opportunity. Would you view the endurance of waiting for help as an intrusion or as a divine opportunity? We may think nobody knows the trouble we’ve seen, but praise God that He knows and He cares! Because our sins are forgiven, we can come to Him for help with boldness and confidence. The opportunities are endless.
