The Righteous may have many troubles but the Lord delivers him from them all.
Blog post description.
"The righteous person has many troubles, but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."
Psalm 34:19 (KJV)
Maybe the presence of trouble isn't proof that something is wrong. Maybe it's evidence that God's Word is true.
Have you ever felt like your life just seems to attract trouble? I have.
Sometimes life can just feel hard, and it's easy to become discouraged. I used to wonder if God had forgotten me or if He even saw what I was going through. It always seemed as though there was something coming against me. Whether it was a spiritual battle or a natural problem, there always seemed to be another challenge waiting around the corner.
If I'm honest, I still feel that way sometimes.
Why does life have to be so hard? Seriously, Lord, aren't You bigger than this?
I know that feeling of disappointment and overwhelm all too well.
Just a few weeks ago, what looked like a life changing opportunity opened up in front of me. I was full of hope, but it didn't turn out the way I'd expected. Instead, things started going wrong in another area of our lives. Suddenly we found ourselves under pressure, asking questions like, "What am I going to do?" "How are we going to pay for this?" "Why did these things have to break now?"
The truth is, I don't have all the answers. I don't know why this happened, or why it happened now.
But I do know this.
Moments like these are not new. The Bible spoke about them thousands of years ago. It tells us that the righteous, that's you and me, may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers us from them all.
What an incredible promise.
Notice that God doesn't promise we'll never have trouble. He promises that He will deliver us through it.
That is where faith comes in.
Faith believes that God knows exactly what is happening. Faith trusts that nothing has taken Him by surprise. Faith holds on to the promise that He is able to deliver us, even when we can't yet see how.
I know that's much easier to write than it is to live. Sometimes the situation feels so loud that it's all you can hear. The pressure shouts at you. Fear tries to convince you that this time will be different.
But does any of that change the truth of God's Word?
Not at all.
The Bible tells us to cast all our cares upon the Lord because He cares for us. We were never meant to carry these burdens on our own. God has your back. He can carry what you cannot. He can replace worry with His peace, even before He changes your circumstances.
And not just any peace.
A peace that passes all understanding.
So, if you're feeling overwhelmed today, just as I have many times, let me encourage you.
God has not forgotten you.
He is for you, not against you.
Yes, you may have trouble in this world, but Jesus has already overcome the world. You may have many troubles, but that doesn't mean God has abandoned you. In fact, Psalm 34 reminds us that the righteous have many troubles, and that means those troubles are never the end of the story. God is faithful, and He is able to deliver you from every one of them.
And if some of the trouble you're facing is because of your own mistakes, that's okay too.
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The old has gone. The new has come. His mercies are new every morning, and His love for you has never changed.
So take heart.
Keep going.
God is with you.
You're more than a conqueror through Christ, and whatever you're facing today, He is more than able to bring you through it.
Lots of love,
Byron
P.S. Here are some Scriptures to keep close if you're facing trouble.
Psalm 34:19 (NIV)
" The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
" 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
John 16:33 (NIV)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Romans 8:31 (NIV)
" What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 8:1 (NIV)
" Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,"
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
" Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!"
Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
Romans 8:37 (NIV)
" No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."