Don't Let Faith Drown in a Sea of Trouble by Rose McCormick Brandon

 

You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive and renew me again, and will bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Psalm 71:20 AMP

 As a youngster, David defeated giant Goliath with one stone from his slingshot. In old-age he wrote Psalm 71. Like all God-followers David’s life was a mixture of victories and troubles.

Trouble speaks with a loud accusing voice. It says God has forgotten you. God isn’t listening. He doesn’t care. Stop praying. Trouble uses words like impossible and hopeless.

Troubles may threaten but God has said, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15). He is not unsympathetic. He hasn’t forsaken.

Refuse to doubt your Lord. Stand firm knowing that when trouble’s time is up, and it will come to an end, God will turn mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11). He will overwhelm the soul with joy and you’ll wonder what you ever did to deserve such a blessing.

Troubles have purpose. God uses them to refine, restore and strengthen our faith in Him.

Troubles have boundaries (I Corinthians 10:13). They’re not meant to break us, but to teach, to guide and to make our faith stronger. “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (I Peter 5:6).

Every child of God has a future. And in that future there’s a song of praise (Psalm 40:3). This same David who recounted his troubles sang songs of praise to the Lord. God’s voice always overpowers trouble’s rantings.

Refuse to complain and murmur against God as the children of Israel did on their trek to the Promise Land. They were headed as a nation to a bright future but the older generation of whiners and grumblers sank in the quicksand of trouble because they didn’t cling to and believe God’s promise. The result? They didn’t live to hear their children sing the songs of victory.

Prayer: O Lord, you will turn my troubles in triumphs.