Troubles Are Opportunities For Great Joy Series

We are sent to the earth to replicate God's holiness in all we do and prepare for eternity. This purpose naturally produces problems for humans because the nature of God and the nature of humans are opposites. Therefore, to enjoy life and learn how to live successfully on earth, you need the knowledge of God to help you successfully use the natural problems of life that you have encountered and will continue to meet to your advantage.

So then, how do you get this knowledge?

Firstly, you accept that your knowledge is limited as humans, but you can acquire unlimited expertise by going to God, who knows everything and how things work.

Secondly, you find a Holy Spirit-filled church,

The church, which is the local (earthly body of people who believe in Jesus Christ), is the school for teaching the nature of God. In the church, God is the teacher. The textbook is the Bible. God is the one who sets the test, awards the pass mark, and gives the prize. Each student is responsible to God, who, by the way, is invisible.

Since troubles are a part of life, and we will all encounter them severally from cradle to grave, we may as well learn to use troubles for our benefit. No trouble in life should be able to cause our destruction.

Let us now look at troubles. What are they, and how can we use them for our benefit?

Now let us now look at unnatural or avoidable troubles.

However, don't go looking for trouble. Unnatural trouble should be avoided. But if it comes, we consider it an opportunity for great joy.

James 1:2 -4 NLT

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy."

Enough troubles are coming on their own that you cannot stop. But there are many troubles we have encountered and experienced that we could have avoided, blocked or prevented.

Proverbs 27:12 CEB

"Prudent people see evil and hide; the simpleminded go right to it and get punished."

Proverbs 22:3 GNT

"Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later."

What is Prudent? It is acting with or showing care and thought for the future. The definition of prudent is someone who has good judgment and is careful and practical. An example of prudent is someone who consults with a financial advisor before investing money. Frugal, economical, not extravagant; Only prudent expenditure may provide quality within a restrictive budget.

Nature of Unnatural troubles

1.. They can be seen; they don't take you by surprise…

2.. They can be prevented…hid. Duck, avoid it.

3.. They end in pain and possible destruction unless God intervenes.

They bring pain…. Some people who married and had problems in any area; the warning signs were probably there, but they chose to ignore them. Ten or twenty years, that issue is still a problem. You may finally solve it, or it may destroy the marriage.

Failed businesses….. your intuition tells you something is not correct. Rather than be patient and investigate, we go right in and are financially burnt.

Failed relationships, be it employee or colleague.

How to avoid unnatural troubles:

Foresee trouble and take action to prevent or avoid it.

Proverbs 22:3 MSG

"A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered."

Isaiah 26:20 NLT

"Go home, my people, and lock your doors! Hide yourselves for a little while until the Lord's anger has passed." (Prayer is a hiding place)

Avoid interfering in problems that are not yours.

Proverbs 26:17 states that interfering in someone else's argument is as foolish as yanking a dog's ear.

For example, on Wednesday, 28 September 2022, a bridge collapsed as vehicles crossed in Brazil, killing many people, wounding many, and destroying lives and property.

The report said the bridge had developed a crack, causing a traffic jam before the collapse. That was a preventable trouble.

Practical actions to protect or minimize the effect of trouble:

1. Put systems in place to manage it successfully.

In some cases, get insurance to protect your assets.

Also, get an Insurance policy to prevent hardship - if you are a family man, get life insurance as it will support you financially if there is critical ill health or in time of injury or death.

2. write a Will. Don't leave anything to chance.

The queen's burial was rehearsed for several years annually before it happened; everything went smoothly.

3. Watch and pray…

In conclusion.

James 1:12 GNT

"Happy are those who remain faithful under trials because when they pass such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him."