My Place In Times Of Trouble
“Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble?” (Psalms 10:1). These words may have crossed your heart, or perhaps your lips, during the course of your life. After all “man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward,” and, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 5:7; 14:1). With these, and other similar verses, we are very familiar, but behold the comfort and refuge that can be found in God, our loving Father.
“For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock” (Psalms 27:5). “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalms 32:7). “But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble” (Psalms 37:39). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1). “In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me” (Psalms 86:7). “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me” (Psalms 138:7).
The peace, protection, comfort, and strength of God are all magnificent benefits of faithfulness to Him. Yet we are not guaranteed those things throughout our earthly lives. In fact, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (II Timothy 2:3). But there is good that comes from troubles. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4). Without hardships and trials, patience wouldn’t have its “perfect work,” and one could never be “perfect and complete.”
Troubles will
come, and some good will come from our troubles. And in the end, even a life riddled with
strife will be well worth the struggle for the faithful child of God (Matthew
----Darrell Powell