The Truth About Troubles

On the surface, our troubles seem like nothing more than God’s failure to uphold His Promises to us. Our faith quickly loses its luster when it is tarnished by the circumstances of our lives. We begin to question whether or not God cares, only to find ourselves deeply considering the possibility that He’s not even there. Troubles do that to us . . . they shake our faith like nothing can. But troubles accomplish many other things as well. And that’s why God allows them. His ways are so much higher . . . and His vision is reflected through His Promises. He gives us glimpses of what it looks like to look through His eyes. All we must do is to seek Him and we will find Him. And when we find Him, He pulls us close, embraces us with His grace, and reveals the “truth about our troubles.”

“For our present troubles are small 

and won't last very long.

 Yet they produce for us a glory 

that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”

(2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT)

Our troubles may not seem small at all. And they actually may last for a very, very, very long time. But in the midst of them . . . something is happening. God is at work. Here’s the truth about troubles: They are tools in the hands of God. He wastes nothing. Remember His promise: He “works ALL things for good.” (Romans 8:28—God NEVER breaks a promise.) If God never sleeps or slumbers (Psalm 121:4), He’s got a lot of time on His hands to work, and if He uses all things for good, you can be sure He is using your troubles. Let Him work, trust Him even when there is no evidence that you should, and grab hold of these simply truths to sustain you through your troubles:

1. Although your life may seem radically out of control, God never is. He knows EXACTLY what you’re going through. He knows the reasons He’s allowing it in your life and you can trust Him. He sets the perimeters of each trial you face (God set the boundaries on the trials Job faced) and He will never allow you to face anything in which He does not have all power to sustain you and to provide you with the endurance and strength to be more than a conqueror. (And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can bear. 1 Corinthians 10:13; No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:37)
2. God has a very specific purpose for your troubles. You may not understand it all, and He may not give you any answers as you’re pouring your heart of despair out to Him, but He knows what He’s doing and He’s giving you the chance to exercise your faith. He’s providing you the opportunity to test your faith and see if it is genuine. (2 Corinthians 13:5) And this exercise is not for Him, it’s for you. Your troubles are opportunities to learn to trust that not only are His ways higher, but they are also better! (Isaiah 55:9)
3. God will walk with you through your troubles, and at times, He will even carry you when the journey leaves you too weak to carry on. There is one promise you should cling to when your faith is wavering and doubt creeps in:  "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) NEVER is a big word. God used it for a reason. Look it up. Never means: not ever, at no time, not under any condition. If the one and only all powerful God that created the universe is with you at ALL times, what is there to fear? Why should you worry? When you’re consumed with His presence, there is unexplainable peace in the midst of unthinkable circumstances. Hold on to the truth that God is with you . . .  always. (Matthew 28:20)

These truths being said, let me fill you in on one other small truth: God is with you because He loves you . . . unconditionally. Accept your troubles for what they are: tools in the hands of God. Seek Him and pour out your heart to Him . . . continually. Your heart is what He’s after, your faith is what He’s perfecting, and He does it all through your troubles.