Thy will be done

It comes and goes like the relentless tide, trouble does. I have some friends and employees who are currently caught in the turbulent tide of trouble and are being tossed about this angry sea and are being torn apart by the rip current of varying trials and tribulations that they are undergoing at this very moment. At times like these, it is often difficult to remain positive mentally and it is exceedingly difficult not to worry. Worry is a sin and it indicates that we do not put enough faith in God to see us through the trouble, nor do we understand that we need that trouble in our life in order to fulfill God’s holy purpose for our lives even when we cannot discern what that purpose might be.

I spoke with my father yesterday and told him that I have tremendous faith in the Lord, and I realize that there are going to be good times and bad. I told him I do not worry, but I do undergo tremendous anxiety when I am undergoing trouble or see that I am entering one of those periods. I don’t call it worry, but I do have a sense of anxiety or better a sense of dread in what is coming. It is kind of like when I was a little kid and my mother told me that when my father got home I was going to get a whipping. As I awaited his arrival, I did not doubt that I would live through it, but I did not relish the thought of my father pounding me as hard as he could with a belt either.

The Bible tells us that “The righteous cry out and the Lord hears; and delivers them out of all of their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” It goes on to say, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all”. We will get through our afflictions according to the Bible!

When faced with these times, we should cry out to the Lord, (pray). We are assured by the foregoing passages in Psalms 34 that the Lord will hear our cries for help, will remain near, save those of us with a contrite spirit and deliver us out of all of the troubles. This reminds me of Jesus praying in Gethsemane contemplating what was going to happen to Him on the cross, when He asked if He might be spared what was going to have to happen, but in the end told His Father, “Nevertheless not as I will but as You will”. It is not a sin to dread what may be coming. Unfortunately for Him He could not be spared, but it was wonderful for all of us for all of humanity benefitted as we could not have been reconciled to God ever again if the tragedy on the cross had not occurred. Jesus had anxiety for sure, but He willingly accepted His trouble, because it was God’s will.

It is a sin to worry and doubt that God will deliver you or reject that His will being done is more important than our own will. Jesus addressed this issue when the soldiers came to get Him in Gethsemane and one of the Apostles pulled His sword and attempted to rescue Jesus by cutting off the ear of one of the soldiers. Jesus healed the man’s ear and admonished the disciple telling him the Scriptures must be fulfilled.

We all experience trouble at one time of other. Understand that even though it might prove to be exceedingly difficult and you might be stricken with grief, it will pass and even though you might have tremendous problems understanding how, when God’s will has been accomplished you will benefit from it. Best of all realize that God is near throughout and you are not fighting it alone.

Matt.26:54
How then could the Scriptures
be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?