There are at least three things that are certain in life; taxes, death, and trouble. It is how a person deals with them that determines the state of mind in which they walk.
When people allow themselves to be closed in by an overused, over-glorified canvas of despair, a purported covering of “protection,” it can quickly escalate into a shroud of defeat if the person practicing this behavior is not careful. They run the risk of walking around with their head hung low and their chin dragging the ground, figuratively speaking.
Their existence is one of burying their head in the sand of self-pity when trouble comes their way. It is not a life that they want or look forward to each morning when they awaken—they just live a life of self-centered inwardness; thinking only of their own needs.
It is possible that their lack of purpose in life is from a self-absorbed existence that may have been caused by someone hurting them in the past, or merely the absence of self-confidence, which can prompt a narcissistic type attitude. This can happen to anyone if measures are not taken to safeguard against seclusion from sound guidelines of godly principles. We need to bathe ourselves in God’s Word.
The neglect to guard our mind against negative memories that the devil keeps tormenting us with, or to allow ongoing conversations to run amok and center on problems, create a mountain of trouble, because Satan moves in the realm of confusion.
When trouble comes, you can trace it back to him—he capitalizes on disorder in the sphere of the negative. It is like a circle going no-where when Satan directs one’s thinking. Our saving grace is that God always listens to our woes the moment we cry out to Him for help when trouble comes. He is ready and willing to deliver us from our oppressor, the devil. This is one more thing that is certain in life, which far exceeds the three that I’ve already mentioned.
When I look around me I see individuals that appear to be spiritually down all of the time, because I believe they live in a “stunted growth syndrome,” as I call it. This lifestyle does not permit them to abound to higher heights in the Lord, because they live in defeat. They cannot mature in faith do to the fact that they are always on the receiving end of encouraging words from others, rather than giving away from themselves. They fail to put into practice (John -39).
(John 7:37-39), “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.’” vs.38 “‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” vs.39 “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
Grown adults act like little children that hang onto their pacifier or blanket; refusing to toss them aside in order to become and act like mature Christians. When trouble comes they are quick to fall into a fetal position and start sucking their pacifier or thumb, because they are weak in the faith. They haven’t learned to walk on their own two feet without having to involve someone else to hold their hand. They fear to take the next step alone when trouble comes.
Babes in Christ need to seek the same power that fell on the hundred and twenty souls that were in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, (Acts 2:1-4). Boldness comes when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in a person that is timid, childlike, and always needing someone else to help them in times of trouble.
When trouble comes, victorious Christians stand in the strength of the Holy Spirit and trust God’s Word to see them through the hour of calamity. They put into practice what the Bible says in the following scriptures.
(1 Peter 5:6-7), “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” vs.7 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6), “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;” vs.6 “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
(Philippians 4:13), “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Individuals that were once timid and irresponsible wimps in their faith when facing trouble, become power turbines for God; putting out enormous amounts of energy and electrifying kilowatts, as it were, doing work for the Kingdom of God.
They become power houses as they minister to the needs of others. Rather than taking in all the time they now give from themselves, while putting away childish notions and fears when trouble comes, because perfect love casts out all fear.
(1 John ), “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
This is the dynamo power that Jesus promised that we could have, which enables us to witness for Him after we have been endued with power from on high. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is this power that sustains us when trouble comes.
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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