If we live long enough, we will have our share of difficulties in this life. Grief, pain, broken relationships, sickness, and persecution are all examples of the problems that we can face. These trials are a part of the human experience. Jesus warns us, “In this world, you will have troubles” (John 16:33 NIV). Since it is not a question of “IF” but “WHEN” the difficulties will come, we must prepare and know what to do when trouble comes.
Table of Contents
There are many examples of trials and trouble in the Bible. A crisis can affect a country, a family, or an individual. Some difficulties hurt many people; for example, David and his men lost their wives and children because they were captured in a raid at Ziklag by a people called the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:1-6 KJV). Some troubles only affect individuals and their families, like Job, who suffered when he lost everything (Job 1:13-22 NKJV).
As I’m writing this, some individuals in my neighborhood are experiencing grief and mourning the loss of their mother, who was a prominent figure in the community. Meanwhile, others are finding it difficult to cope with the rising prices of gas and groceries. It seems like many people are struggling with various issues, and I believe God is concerned about all of us.
Jesus Taught Us What To Do When Trouble Comes
When Jesus went to the cross, the Bible says that he knew what he must do, but it caused agony, so much that he sweat tears of blood. The previously written prophecy stated that the Messiah would be beaten and crucified. Jesus knew all that would happen, which was troubling, so what did He do? He prayed and trusted God.
And he took with him Peter and James and John and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
Mark 14:33-35 ESV
Jesus asked others to keep watch but ultimately had to pray alone. When Jesus prayed, he asked God to help. After asking in prayer, Jesus surrendered to the will of God in obedience and trust. He willingly endured being beaten and killed, knowing that the pain of the cross would bring us the joy of salvation.
As we look at the prayer that Jesus prayed, we see that Jesus acknowledges that God could remove the trouble because He states, “All things are possible for You.” Jesus’ words show that He is confident in God’s ability. He asks God to take the trouble away; perhaps he wishes there was another way. Finally, His “nevertheless” demonstrates that He surrenders to God’s method and will; even though it would not be easy, He trusted God.
Trouble Will Come, Nevertheless
We will have trouble in this world. There will be times when we lose a loved one, and grief feels unbearable. Sometimes, we or someone we love has to fight sickness, which feels unfair. Other times, we may even step right into a pit of our own making and suffer the consequences of our mess. (I can hear my mom say something like, “You made your bed hard, and now you gotta lie in it.”) The beauty is that God promises to be with us no matter where we are. We will never be too far from his reach. He will help if we call on Him in our times of trouble.
Troubles come and go. Hopefully, as we overcome our difficulties, we grow closer to God and learn to trust Him more. It may be hard to have strength in times of trouble, but if we can only muster the faith to say, “God help me,” He will come to our side. He can and will assist us through our troubles.
Each time we go through problems, we have an opportunity to know God in a new and more profound way. God reminds us that as His children, we will never go through anything that He has not prepared a means of escape.
We must remember that this world is a product of sin. Because of sin, there will be troubles. Being a Christian does not exempt us from sadness or unwelcome pain. We can only take heart that God promises to be there with us. He will walk with us in the valley (Psalm 23). He will comfort us in our time of grief, and one day, He will take us home to a place without sadness.
Until God takes us home to live with him, He does not want us to be troubled but wants us to trust his ability to provide for us. We may go through troubles, but God wants us to have peace and not fear. No matter our difficulties, our response should be the same as Jesus’ at the cross. We should pray and ask God to help by acknowledging that God has the power and ability to change all situations. Lastly, we must be willing to accept God’s will as our own and trust His method. We must say what Jesus said, which is “Nevertheless.”
A Prayer to Deal With Trouble
When trouble comes, it sometimes feels like it catches us off guard. No matter what the situation, our first response should be to take our burdens to God in prayer. Our heavenly Father specializes in answering prayers. He can remove our troubles, but sometimes, He only strengthens us to help us make it through. When we come out on the other side, we must remember to thank God. Trouble will come and go as a cycle as we grow and continue to live this life. There will always be ups and downs on this side of Heaven. Let’s pray together for God’s help today.
