Passing Through Trouble - Eric Swanson

But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.” Job 2:10 NLT

I knew serving overseas in Niger wasn't going to be easy. 

Niger has a different culture, food, and language. But the frustration increased when I was left alone. Initially, I was with a team, but the married couple returned to the States for the summer, leaving me alone. The problem intensified when I had to take care of a dog with an obnoxious bark. 

A storm of trouble came from both inside and outside of my four walls. Then the figurative became real when rains came and added a new layer of misery as the rainwater came up through the shower drain and flooded the house.

I wondered how much more I could take. Then, more dreaded news came: my dad had passed away in the States. 

Grieving is hard enough to do with friends in a familiar setting but more difficult when doing it alone. I could have easily fallen into the sin of despair, thinking no one cared. 

Fortunately, I was not alone. A friend connected me to a family from South Africa who helped me experience some much-needed fellowship and took the time to visit me during my mourning.

Job's wife told him to curse God and die. Later, friends told him he had sinned. But Job knew we must accept both good and trouble for it all comes from God. 

Through my trouble, I understood the sufficiency of God's love and grace, no matter the situation. Trouble can drive us toward the only immovable Rock that can help us weather life's storms.

Is trouble flooding you like water coming in through the shower drain? Are you trying to figure out how to deal with things independently? Ask God to help you realize others can help you see God’s sufficiency. 

Tweetable: Where do you turn when passing through trouble? 

 

Eric Swanson lives in Niamey, Niger, where he teaches English to refugees. He has visited a wide array of countries, such as China, Vietnam, Ireland, and Russia. When he is not teaching, he enjoys reading or writing books. His mother and sister live in the States. 

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Walk-on Wednesday - Hope for Troubled Hearts - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Walk-on Wednesday. By Hump Day, we are struggling, but we believe a good devotion can strengthen us to finish the week strong. 

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:11 MSG

Every teacher worth their salt worries about their students’ future.

Some students are conscientious and organized and have their lives mapped out. Others consider school unimportant. They skip homework assignments and take the zero without thought. Or fail to study for tests, taking a C—or even a failing grade—when they’re capable of much better.

Once, I stumbled across a few of these students—my previous students—on a social media site. I was surprised and pleased to discover what they’d made of themselves. Mothers, fathers, spouses, business owners. God had plans, and he knew their future better than I.

Although they had suffered through seventy years of brutal captivity, God’s people would soon experience his plan for them: deliverance. God used the prophet Jeremiah to share that plan. All they had to do was believe God’s message and act on it when the time was right.

God doesn’t create without purpose. He forms and brings into existence individuals for whom he has a plan. Believing God has a plan for my life changes my perspective and gives me hope. If I choose to go my own way in life, I’ll miss his plan and his best.

God’s plan includes a mixture of joy and hardship. Deliverance was enticing for his enslaved people, but the road back to Jerusalem—and the ensuing hardships of rebuilding the city and the temple—would prove difficult. God doesn’t promise a bed of roses produced free of thorns, but among the prickles beautiful blooms emerge.

God probably won’t show us what we don’t ask to see, so discovering his plan is our responsibility. The strength to follow it, however, comes from him. When we follow his purpose, the results will shock us—just as the present lives of my past students do me.

When life seems hopeless, find hope in God’s plans. And when overcome by doubt, trust God’s heart and power.

Prayer:  Father God, we ask that You reveal Your plans and give us the courage and strength to pursue and realize them.

Tweetable: Do you have hope in troubled times? 

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The Breaking Point - Martin Wiles

Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:10 NLT

What I wanted the most, I couldn’t have.

Life stunk … at least the part that kept me from having a child. I had heard about women in a neighboring country aborting their children. I suppose just because they thought having a child would inconvenience their lifestyle. I couldn’t imagine. I wanted a child so badly I couldn’t imagine terminating a pregnancy just because of inconvenience.

I tired of the gossip and of the busybodies running their mouths. “Did you hear Hannah can’t have a baby. Such a shame. I can’t imagine.” I knew what they really thought. They thought I had committed some secret sin, and God was punishing me by not letting me have a child. I admit, sometimes I wondered that myself, but deep inside I knew better.

The fact that my husband had another wife who made fun of me too didn’t help. Living in a house with another woman and her children was almost more than I could stand. I considered leaving, but where would I go and how could I support myself. Helping care for children who weren’t my own only made me want children even more.

My husband didn’t understand. Sure, he did things for me he didn’t do for his other wife. Little extra things he thought would help ease my pain. I appreciated his efforts, but they didn’t take away my grief. I wanted my own child. Nothing he gave me … no extra attention he showed me … would make up for a child.

Every year when our little family traveled to the Tabernacle to make a yearly sacrifice to God, the other woman would make my life miserable. Finally, I reached my breaking point. After we all left the Tabernacle, I decided I’d return. The old priest sat nearby, but I didn’t talk to him. I went straight to the altar and poured my heart out to God. “God, I haven’t sinned on purpose. You know I love You. If You will give me a son, I’ll give him back to You so he can serve You all the days of his life.”

I was scared to pray out loud, so I just whispered. The old priest accused me of being drunk, but I told him it was just the anguish and embarrassment speaking.

I must admit, I was surprised when God actually answered my prayer. I know He doesn’t always answer prayers the way we want Him to, but this time He did. So out of appreciation—and to keep my word—I took my son, when he was old enough, back to the priest. And, of course, he remembered me as the drunk woman who wasn’t really drunk.

Sometimes, God just lets us get to the breaking point before He breaks through.

Prayer: Father, when we reach our breaking point, remind us You are there with us.

Tell us about a time when you reached your breaking point. 

Tweetable: Have you reached the breaking point? 

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When Trouble Comes - Solace from the Psalms - Martin Wiles

For thousands of years, people have found comfort in the Psalms. No matter what emotion you are experiencing or fight you're facing, the psalms have something important to say. For the next little while, Love Lines from God will feature, "Solace from the Psalms." We hope you enjoy. And please share them with a friend. 

I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me. Psalm 86:7 NLT

The email sat in my inbox, longing to be opened.

I had emailed friends in Nova Scotia for an update on their church plant. The last wasn’t very encouraging, so I prayed for a more uplifting report. It wasn’t.

Things moved at a snail’s pace. A few people responded to the invites, but not as many as they had hoped for. They planned to begin small groups, but were anxious about anyone showing up. In the spring, they planned to begin one preview service each month and continue through the summer with regular weekly meetings slated for the fall.

Personal finances were challenging. The pastor was looking for secular work to supplement his family’s income. The church budget was behind fifty percent, and could fall further He desired to grow relationships with others but realized it would take time, sacrifice, love, patience, and wisdom.

Yet, my friend in Halifax expected God’s intervention. The psalmist did too. Both my friend and the psalmist appeared to travel dead-end roads. I’ve been on a few myself, and I’m always tempted to ask; “Where’s this going?” or “God does this have some purpose?” I don’t like trouble and try not to invite it, but it has a habit of appearing nevertheless.

Sometimes, I trip up, trying to determine trouble’s source when my response is more important. There’s nothing like a little correction fluid when I make decisions harming myself or others. Or when I choose actions damaging my testimony. The trouble is God designs His discipline to make me sit up, take notice, and change directions.

But trouble’s not always bad. It also shapes and molds. It teaches me valuable lessons about myself, others, God, and the world. Trouble prunes me, increases my wisdom, and strengthens my trust in God to care for me. Without it, I would depend on myself. With it, I remember He’s in control. And after all, it’s God’s road, not mine.

When trouble comes, cry out to God. Asking why is permissible, but pondering a wise course of action and learning are more productive.

Tweetable: Where do you turn when trouble comes?

Prayer: God of mercy, when You allow trouble in our life, give us grace to endure and wisdom to learn what You’re teaching us. 

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