A Minute With Pastor — 02/21/2010
It happens when you’re driving down a hill and your brakes go out; when the teacher gives you a pop quiz, for which you could not study for; and when you fall in a pool and you can’t swim. What happens is trouble.
Trouble plays no favorites. It excludes no one from its invitation list and visits all. It shows up at the seemingly most inopportune times and scarcely ever according to your schedule. For the Christian, trouble multiplies itself in the form of persecution. Scripture even asserts: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing has happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12).
Fact is, trouble is the expectation, not exception. Jesus declared: “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life” (Matthew 7:14). Yet in the midst of trouble, you can and should glorify God. In everything give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and always rejoice (Philippians 4:4)!