Time in the Word ~ Psalm 1:6

We live in a dangerous world, and even when we think our lives are stable and under control, it seems that is exactly when something happens to disrupt the order of our lives. There is much we do not see or understand as we track through our lives that erupt to disturb our peace of mind and wreck our way if we are not in Christ. Things happen in the lives of all human beings because we live in a fallen world, and we are all subject to our own failures, mistakes, and ignorance, not to mention those who are around us as well as all the external events and forces that impact our lives without us understanding where they come from or why they are there to create trouble.

I laugh at those Allstate insurance commercials when “mayhem” is riding in the car as the driver’s “blind spot” and tells the driver “it’s ok, go for it!” only to have the driver sideboard the car in the next lane. The truth of the matter is that trouble will always be a constant companion in our life and mind as we go forward. Job 5:6 states that man is born to trouble as sparks fly upward, and Jesus tells us that everyday has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34). The truth is that trials and trouble don’t pass anyone by, and they hit all of us. It is not that we will or will not have trouble in our lives since trouble will come; rather, it is all about how we face, persevere, learn and overcome through troublesome times.

Our devotional text points the way that it is the Lord that watches over us and helps us to overcome whatever trouble we face in our paths. The one thought that we should cling to when the storms rage is that Christ is sufficient to get us through it! It does not matter that it is your mistake or a self-inflicted problem, because God’s power is available if you will turn to Jesus Christ, focus on him, and in believing prayer say “Lord help me!”  Look at the story of Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14, who when he stepped out of the boat and started to worry about the storm, began to sink. Immediately Peter turned to Jesus and shouted “Lord save me!” (Matthew 14:30). The Lord saved Peter and he will save you too if you will trust and reach out to him in dangerous and difficult times. God will never leave or forsake you, and he tells you that if you are in trouble, pray to him (James 5:13).

Listen, friend, you simply cannot go it alone in this life. The road is too steep and the curves too twisting to avoid troubles and trials in your path, and it is only the Lord who will watch over you and hold you by his strong right hand and take you to a safe place (Isaiah 41:13). If you refuse God’s help, then when trouble arrives (and it always does), you will sink under its weight as you turn to your own weak power and will perish under its burden. The Lord will make a straight path for us if we trust him and not ourselves to work through the trouble of life.

TODAY, FATHER, I WILL LOOK TO YOUR GRACE WHEN I AM IN TROUBLE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR POWER IS SUFFICIENT FOR WHATEVER I FACE, AND I KNOW THAT YOU WATCH OVER ME.

Article source: Mike White @ summitchurchofchrist.org