God has put a very important message on my heart today to share with you. I want to talk to you about troubles, trials, and storms. Some people have a misconception that once you become a believer in Jesus, life will be roses and you will never again experience such things. Think again. The Bible clearly states that all of us will experience these times. When describing the difference between those who believe in Him and those who don’t, Jesus gave an example in Luke 6:47-49 that clearly shows that we all, believer and non-believer, will experience troubles, trials, and storms:
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.
Notice that the flood came even to the believer who bases his life on Jesus’ teachings. But also notice the result for the believer and unbeliever. When the storm passed, the believer was left standing and unshaken. The unbeliever, however, was destroyed.
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| “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” PSALM 91:14-16 |
My reason for writing this post is I want to encourage you not to give up in the storm. Times are tough all around the world. People are experiencing trouble like never before in their health, home, and finances. But this storm too will eventually pass. Don’t fret. Don’t let it frighten you. Jesus is with you. His teachings will protect you. His hand is upon you. His strength will sustain you.
I remember once when I was working in a large city, and I was sitting in my car on the top level of the parking garage down the street from the office during lunch reading my Bible. I was experiencing a very stressful day. My boss, who was a very hard person with whom to work, was being especially difficult, harsh, and unreasonable that day. I was distraught and sought comfort in God’s Word. I opened my Bible to the place where I had stopped reading the previous day, Psalm 86. I read verses 1-4:
I remember once when I was working in a large city, and I was sitting in my car on the top level of the parking garage down the street from the office during lunch reading my Bible. I was experiencing a very stressful day. My boss, who was a very hard person with whom to work, was being especially difficult, harsh, and unreasonable that day. I was distraught and sought comfort in God’s Word. I opened my Bible to the place where I had stopped reading the previous day, Psalm 86. I read verses 1-4:
Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
Wow, how appropriate for the situation! Tears started to well up in my eyes. Someone had felt what I was feeling. But the story does not end there. I had the windows of my car down. The wind was blowing in the left-hand window the entire time I had been sitting in the car. Suddenly, as I finished reading the first four verses of Psalm 86, the wind changed direction and came in through my right-hand window. It flipped the page on my Bible one page over and my eyes fell on a passage that I had highlighted more than a year before. It was verses 20-24 of Psalm 89. It says:
My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.
The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him.
I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries.
My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted.
The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him.
I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries.
My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted.
Think what you will. Call it a coincidence. But I know God was speaking to me. God was reminding me that even in the storm, He is there. He had not forgotten about me. He had not left to me to endure it on my own. As He promised in Luke 6:47-49 for anyone who believes in Him, He would protect me as the storm raged, and when it passed, I would still be standing. But not just "standing" according to Psalm 89, but my horn would be exalted. The "horn" in Bible days represented strength. God was saying that when I came out of this situation, I would be the victor and everyone would see His faithfulness. Those of you who have heard my testimony, know that this is indeed what happened. The boss who oppressed me was fired and I was exalted to a high position in the firm and blessed beyond my imaginations. It is no different for you today, if you will keep standing, trusting and leaning upon God, who is your strength. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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