Psalm 9:9–10 (NKJV) — 9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble. 10 And those who know Your name will put
their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
When trouble comes who do you trust to help you through difficult times. I
thank God He has put people in my life I know I can simply ask them to
pray, and they do. Trouble for one person may not be so for another. Life is
full of opportunities to stumble into painful situations. Sometimes life is a
walk in spiritual darkness. Sometimes even in the light of God’s presence we
encounter the evil of Satan. Our spiritual strength is not found in a syrupy
easy life. We discover our true belief in God through the pain, anguish, and
even darkness of evil. (I do not blame Satan for every evil or struggles in my
life. Sometimes it is just me being me.)
I think of Job and his experience in pain. We must remember this earth is
not our home. Life is not promised to us. One day we will all die. The
journey is one of painful sorrow with glimpses of God’s glorious light. Poor
Job. He sat and listened to his “friends” give advice and even try and console
him. His wife said “do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and
die!” Job’s response was, “…Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall
we not accept adversity.” (Job 2:5-10) We all face adversity at some level.
I have a major problem with those who preach and teach the “pie in the sky”
theology. Pain is pain whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual. Pain
comes in many ways. Satan uses pain to move us from God. God uses pain
to prove His love to us. God is present in the pain and difficulties of life. God
is our “refuge and strength in times of trouble.”
Job never gave up, he never thought about cursing God. He trusted God.
The psalmist acknowledged “God as his refuge, a refuge for the oppressed, a
refuge in times of trouble.”
Satan knows our weakness. He will attack us and try to tear us apart. One of
my favorite go to verses when trouble comes is Proverbs 3:5–6 “5 Trust in
the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In
all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”