Troubles, Troubles, All Around.

By Pastor Jim Deck

The world today has many self - made remedies as what to do when troubles arise. You can turn on the television and listen to a myriad of self - proclaimed gurus as how to deal with your husband or wife in your marital issues. Or, simply change the channel to get relief from illnesses, diseases, maladies, financial issues, food addictions, weight problems and the list goes on and on if you know what I mean. But what about the believer who has the world fall in on him? What does the believer do when confronted with some of life's most threatening situations? We must admit that life is filled with many different types of troubles.

Disappointments, failures, addictions, setbacks, habits, unexpected financial problems can all be a very real part of our lifestyle. Even in our spiritual walk we can face the trials and testing that cause us to ask, "God, where are you in all of this?" In all of this despair what are we to do? The answer comes in the strengthening of our mind through faith. We are to deliberately refocus our minds through an exercise of faith by concentrating on the Word of God. Now this seems simplistic in some senses and you might say, "Maybe that's easy for you to do or say..." But we must look to the Word to answer the issues of life we face and that includes our spiritual struggles. Jesus gives us a simple statement in the book of John that puts us on the right track of thinking, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." (John 14:1) Our worries and troubles need to be bathed in the Word of God. By bringing them into the light of the Word we soon see how God wants to take that burden from us. Psalm 55:22 states, "Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved [shaken]." Psalm 34 speaks strongly to the afflictions we are confronted with daily, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." In every sense we can discover the appropriate response to our trials by examining the scriptures.

We are to put our minds on Him and so overcome the troubles we face by reminding ourselves of the power and promises of God and put our trust in Him. The Word of God constantly reveals the call of the believer to be strong and of good courage. We are not to be the whining, wailing, complaining Christian who sets pity party after pity party for themselves when we are faced with difficulties or challenges in life. But rather a believer of great stature in faith and source of strength for others.

It is probably of no "happenstance" or coincidence, that we are currently studying the series "Life's Healing Choices" with pastor Rick Warren. In the Transformation Choice he revealed how he broke his year long depression by constantly reading and memorizing the scriptures morning, noon and night. His need to refocus his mind on the things of God and His promises slowly turned the tide of his depression into victory, and eventually, a mind strong in the Lord. Getting our focus off of our problems and into the Word can deliver you from every worry that the world can throw at you. Today you can start on your road to victory over the issues that are trying to bind you and drag you into depression by writing out every scripture that you find to give you strength. Write them, read them, memorize them, speak them, and sing them, whatever it takes to restructure your mind on how God can give you the abundant life and victory over the troubles of life. God bless you.

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