August 14 - Trouble with a Capital “T”

 Read today’s texts first: Jeremiah 16,17; Psalms 96; John 16

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

God doesn’t promise a trouble-free life,
but He does promise an overcoming one!

Harold Hill may have predicted Trouble with a capital “T” in River City, but we are facing a heap more trouble than a new pool hall in town. Jesus predicted trouble anywhere and everywhere, throughout all time, until He comes back again. Some of that trouble we bring on ourselves by disobeying God, but some of it actually comes by obeying God. Our readings today present both sides.

Jeremiah, like Professor Hill, warned Judah about the inevitable consequences for their disobedience: This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (16:5-8).

Prosperity teachers are right some of the time. The choices we make often do determine how our lives unfold. There are inherent benefits from doing things God’s way. He invented life so when we live our lives according to His instructions, things tend to go better. But there are exceptions, and that’s where the hyper faith movement stalls.

Jesus found Himself in trouble a lot, and so did His disciples. In fact, Jesus knew their trouble meter would be off the charts after He left: 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 (John 16:33). They were about to face persecution so severe that all of them would be tortured to death, with one notable exception - the writer of this gospel miraculously survived being boiled in oil. Now that’s deep trouble.

“Lord, I am grateful for a relatively trouble-free life because of the reliability of Your Word. But when a world of trouble comes, I have peace in knowing the One who overcame the world is with me!”