We can’t control trouble. Sometimes we bring it on ourselves but sometimes it just comes. Job said Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. We’re a fallen race in a corruptible body. Troubles happen at all ages. An old preacher used to say “the past was never as good as it used to be.” We were troubled way back when too. They still come. Job said he was doing the best he could, but trouble came.
Job 4: 3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. 4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. 5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. 6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
At the closing of the book of Galatians, Paul said for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Job was troubled. Paul was troubled. Both suffered loss. They were blindsided. That’s not unique to them. They were not exempt. Neither are we. Their troubles certainly top ours, but troubles and trials are part of life. If you say there is nothing going wrong in your life, I’d feel like saying you were telling a whopper!
Job trusted God. He followed God. He was blessed with great wealth. He didn’t tolerate evil. Yet in a day’s time he lost everything he owned. His livestock all died. His houses came down on all his children and killed them. His financial state present and future as well as his 10 children were gone. Then he was struck with sores over his body. His wife was distraught and in complete despair she told Job to curse God and die. Before we say too much about her, think about it. Have you been there when it seemed so bad you just wanted to die? Troubles can get to us. Elijah had a huge victory on Mount Carmel but ended up with a bounty on his head by Jezebel. He ran and hid wishing he could die. One thing runs through it all. God was with each of them.
We can get down. The fact of trouble—whether it is the devil, our health, or finances—it comes to us all. No matter how hard we pray trouble still comes. So I ask the question. Are they worth the worry? We don’t know how it will turn out or how much it might hurt. We lose sleep. We’re antsy. We cannot control the trouble, but we can control the worry. Troubles are without; worry is within. Our truckload of worry need not be full. Don’t let it slow you down and make you doubt the Lord and cripple you in following him.
When Job’s wife made her statement, he told her she spoke as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? He later said he came into the world naked and that’s how he’d leave it. Was he not handling his problems? He was worried. You can tell he was. His friends accused him of sinning and bringing the trouble on himself. The devil will afflict us to destroy what we have in God. Be worried a little. Be concerned. BUT don’t be crippled by it and quit. We’re not saved to be quitters. Don’t lay down your responsibility because of troubles and trials. Troubles don’t always have a face, but the Lord Jesus Christ does. The Bible says he was wounded for our transgressions and by his stripes we are healed. He bore our sins and our sorrows. We have a friend! He’s a deliverer. Give him time; he’ll deliver us completely. We’ll leave it all behind and there will be no more troubles and trials. I’m thankful for someone to turn to. We have to believe this. Has he not delivered you before? You wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t. Dark times are coming. It’s not a bowl of cherries like the morning shows would have us think. Be glad we have hope. Job had helped others in times of trouble; now it came upon him. Never boast or brag about the lack of trouble. Without Jesus we cannot stand. I know a Savior who walks on water, a Redeemer who can hold us up when we stumble.
Job and his wife were faithful. The health and wealth returned. They even had more children. Let God be your confidence and hope. When we can’t trust anything else we can trust him. The sun is coming up in the morning. You may be flat on your back but you can still be upright in your soul. The devil wants to take that away. Our one-word solution is Jesus.
Job 5:17-19 says Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
How many troubles do you have? God will help you. Are they worth the worry? Maybe we can’t help but worry a little but we don’t have to fall apart. The more we trust the Lord, the less we’ll be crippled by worry. Thank you, Job, for leaving the testimony that we can make it through.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 